Roam Shakes Up EV Charging at Heathrow with Free Parking and Discounts

LONDON, UK – March 25, 2026 – Electric vehicle (EV) drivers navigating the bustling perimeter of Heathrow Airport have been given a significant new incentive, as charging network Roam announced a major update to its services at the Hilton Heathrow Terminal 5. The company is introducing free parking for the first 40 minutes for all EV drivers using its rapid chargers at the hotel, a move aimed squarely at eliminating a common and costly pain point for those needing a quick power top-up.

In addition to the free parking, Roam is launching a promotional discount throughout April 2026. Drivers will pay a reduced rate of 59p/kWh, a saving of 7p/kWh on the standard tariff. The initiative is designed for maximum convenience; drivers can simply turn up, connect their vehicle to one of the 10 ultra-rapid charging sockets, and pay via contactless or the Roam app, all without needing to register with the hotel, provided their stay is under the 40-minute grace period. This combination of cost-saving and streamlined access is set to make the site a highly attractive option for the thousands of EV drivers passing through the area daily.

Addressing a Critical Bottleneck at a Key Hub

The significance of Roam's initiative extends beyond a simple discount. It strategically addresses a long-standing issue of ancillary costs associated with EV charging, particularly parking fees at high-demand locations. The Hilton Heathrow T5 site itself has a history that underscores this problem. Before Roam took over and upgraded the facility in December 2025, a £6 parking fee was in place for chargers, a barrier significant enough that it reportedly led to Tesla removing its Superchargers from the location. By eliminating this fee for short-stay charging, Roam is not just offering a perk but removing a major deterrent that previously hampered the site's utility.

This move positions Roam competitively in the dense charging landscape around Heathrow. While other networks like BP Pulse, Gridserve, and Ionity operate in the vicinity, parking fees often remain an additional, and sometimes unpredictable, expense. The 40-minute free window is tailored for the capabilities of the site's 300kW ultra-rapid chargers, which can add substantial range to modern EVs in well under half an hour. The offer is expected to be particularly beneficial for professional drivers, such as London's growing fleet of electric black cabs and private hire vehicles, who rely on rapid, cost-effective charging between airport fares to maximize their time on the road. For travelers and local commuters, it transforms the charging experience from a potential logistical hassle into a seamless part of their journey.

A Reflection of Roam's Aggressive Growth Strategy

This initiative at Heathrow is not an isolated promotion but a clear demonstration of Roam's broader vision for the EV charging market. The company, which rebranded from EVC in late 2024, is pursuing an ambitious expansion fueled by significant capital. Following a £165 million investment announced in 2023, Roam secured a further £65 million in debt financing in November 2025 to fast-track its goal of establishing a network of 40,000 charging sites across the UK.

Roam's core philosophy centers on "destination charging"—integrating reliable charging infrastructure into places where people already spend time, such as hotels, retail parks, leisure centers, and workplaces. The Hilton T5 hub, which also includes twenty 22kW AC chargers for guests staying longer, is a prime example of this model in action. By providing a fully funded solution where Roam handles the installation, management, and 24/7 support at no capital cost to the property owner, the company creates a compelling proposition for partners.

"Making EV charging simple and accessible is central to our purpose," said James Randall, CEO of Roam, in the original announcement. "By providing free parking for the first 40 minutes at Hilton Heathrow Terminal 5, we're removing a cost barrier for drivers who need a quick charge while travelling or stopping nearby. We hope the discounted rate throughout April will also encourage drivers who might have chosen other points to give our rapid chargers a try." This customer-centric approach is a key pillar of the company's plan to capture a significant share of the UK's rapidly growing EV market, with a stated goal of installing over 8,000 charge points by the end of 2026.

The Future of Integrated Travel and Charging

The partnership between Roam and Hilton highlights a crucial trend in the hospitality and transportation sectors: the integration of essential services to enhance customer experience. For Hilton, providing robust EV charging is becoming as fundamental as offering Wi-Fi. The hotel giant is pursuing a multi-partner strategy to meet this demand globally. While Roam is a key partner in the UK, Hilton has also teamed up with Ionity for ultra-rapid hubs at other UK locations and has a massive agreement with Tesla to install 20,000 chargers across 2,000 hotels in North America.

This diversified approach shows that large hotel chains are not locking themselves into single providers but are instead choosing partners best suited for specific markets and locations. The Roam model at Heathrow, with its focus on ultra-rapid charging and solving the parking-fee problem, is perfectly adapted to the high-turnover environment of an international airport. It serves as a powerful case study for how charging networks and property owners can collaborate to create value for EV drivers, potentially setting a new standard for charging infrastructure at transport hubs and other commercial destinations across the UK and Europe, where Roam plans to expand next.