The United Kingdom is bk World’s next market, and Newcastle its first site. On Askew Road (NE8 2JX), bk World opens its first charging lounge in the UK, together with charge point operator Fastned. It is the fifth country in which the two companies work together, after Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and France.

The UK is one of Europe’s largest markets for electric vehicles, and demand for fast charging with genuine comfort is growing alongside it. The lounge is located on Askew Road (A184), one of the main routes into the centre of Gateshead. The town lies on the south bank of the Tyne, directly opposite Newcastle. Drivers who charge here now have a place to settle in, with seating, a coffee machine, refrigerators stocked with snacks and drinks, a freezer with ice cream and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. What works at bk World’s sites in Germany, France, Switzerland and Belgium now works in Newcastle too: charging time becomes a break, not waiting time.

“With Fastned we have shown in four countries that a lounge at the charging hub makes the difference. Newcastle is the beginning, and we intend to stay in the UK and grow here,” says Gerold Wolfarth, CEO of bk World.