In April 2024, Elon Musk decided to disband Tesla’s entire Supercharger division, resulting in the layoffs of approximately 500 employees globally. This move shocked the industry, as the Supercharger network was a cornerstone of Tesla’s success and had recently begun opening to non-Tesla EVs through partnerships with automakers like Ford, GM, and Rivian. The layoffs were part of broader cost-cutting measures at Tesla, but they raised concerns about the future of EV infrastructure expansion. Some employees were later rehired, but many, including key talent from the UK team, moved on to new ventures. This event created opportunities for former staff to apply their expertise elsewhere, leading to the formation of startups like Hubber.
Hubber: Company Overview
Hubber is a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure company founded in 2024, specializing in the development of high-powered urban charging hubs. The startup targets the “urban charging infrastructure deficit,” particularly for commercial fleets such as taxis, ride-hailing services (e.g., Uber), delivery vans, and buses. These vehicles require frequent, fast charging in city environments where infrastructure has lagged behind demand, despite rapid EV adoption in fleets. Hubber’s approach involves converting underutilized urban sites—such as old warehouses, parking lots, or former gas stations—into modular, high-capacity charging facilities. This model addresses key barriers like limited land availability, grid connection costs, complex planning approvals, and deployment delays.
The company operates as a real estate platform, acquiring sites with pre-secured megawatt-scale grid connections and delivering turnkey, planning-approved hubs ready for charge point operators (CPOs) or fleet partners. Hubber emphasizes efficiency, reliability, and scalability, drawing from the founders’ experience in site selection, design, and rollout. Their proprietary site-selection model and trusted supply chain enable faster deployment than competitors. The focus is on ultra-rapid charging (up to 300kW per bay), which can reduce downtime for high-mileage commercial vehicles that charge 5x faster than private cars.
Hubber’s mission is to enable “cleaner, smarter cities” by accelerating mass EV adoption, reducing urban emissions (e.g., nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 pollutants, where vehicles contribute up to 60% in areas like London), and supporting sustainable transport. The company positions itself as a bridge between real estate, energy markets, and EV needs, with potential for integrated energy solutions like battery storage in the future.
Founders and Team
Hubber was established by three former Tesla UK Supercharger team members who collectively oversaw the deployment of over 100 Supercharger sites and more than 1,200 ultra-rapid chargers across the UK and Ireland before the 2024 layoffs:
- Harry Fox (CEO): Led Tesla’s UK charging operations, with expertise in site acquisition, grid integration, and large-scale rollout. He has emphasized the shift from highway-focused charging to urban needs, noting that “large, high-powered hubs are the key to enabling continuous, efficient, and scalable operations.”
- Connor Selwood: Contributed to Tesla’s infrastructure expansion, focusing on operational efficiency and commercial applications.
- Hugh Leckie: Specialized in project delivery and technical implementation during his Tesla tenure.
The leadership is supported by a network of senior advisors from real estate, infrastructure investment, energy markets, and large-scale construction. No public X (Twitter) profiles were found for the founders, suggesting they maintain a low social media presence. The team highlights their “uniquely skilled” background from Tesla as a competitive edge in navigating urban deployment challenges.
Funding and Investors
Hubber secured £60 million (approximately $81 million or €69.6 million) in committed equity funding in August 2025 to fuel its initial expansion. This capital will support the acquisition and development of sites with a combined 100 MW of grid capacity.
| Investor | Background | Role |
|---|---|---|
| James Bayliss | Former Head Trader at Elliott Advisors (UK) | Lead Investor |
| Christopher Fox | Former CFO of the British Business Bank | Lead Investor (no relation to Harry Fox) |
The funding round appears to be private, with no additional investors publicly disclosed. It reflects strong confidence in the team’s Tesla-honed expertise and the market need for urban charging. Bayliss commented: “Urban EV charging remains one of the UK’s biggest infrastructure challenges. This uniquely skilled team now has the capital to address it.”
Projects and Operations
Hubber plans to deliver an initial portfolio of 30 high-powered charging hubs across major UK cities, starting with London and expanding to areas like Manchester, Birmingham, and others with high commercial EV demand. The hubs are designed for high throughput, with features like real-time monitoring, efficient layouts, and compatibility for various fleet operators.
- First Facility: Forest Hill Hub (South London) Opened on August 20, 2025, this flagship site serves as a blueprint for future developments. Located on Dartmouth Road, just 200 meters from Forest Hill Station in one of Southeast London’s busiest commuter corridors, it features:
- 12 charging bays.Charging speeds: 3 bays at 150kW and 3 at 300kW (with the remaining bays supporting lower speeds for broader compatibility).Partnership with RAW Charging (owned by Antin Infrastructure Partners), which operates the site and offers free charging for one week (August 20–27, 2025) to celebrate the launch.Focus: Catering to taxis, delivery vehicles, and other commercial EVs, reducing wait times and enabling quick turnarounds.
Future sites will follow a modular format, with pre-approved planning and grid connections to speed up rollout. Hubber identifies opportunities in “overlooked” urban spaces, potentially including integrations for autonomous vehicles down the line. While currently UK-focused, some reports suggest potential international expansion if the model proves successful.
Technology and Services
- Charging Technology: Ultra-rapid DC chargers (150–300kW), optimized for commercial use with minimal downtime.
- Services: Turnkey site delivery to CPOs or fleets, including land acquisition, grid setup, modular construction, and ongoing support. Hubs may incorporate energy management features like load balancing.
- Environmental Impact: By targeting urban fleets, Hubber aims to cut emissions in high-pollution areas, aligning with UK goals to phase out new petrol/diesel vehicles by 2035.
Recent Updates and Industry Response
As of August 25, 2025 (five days post-opening), the Forest Hill hub is operational with promotional free charging ongoing. Industry feedback has been positive, viewing Hubber as a resilient outcome of Tesla’s layoffs and a boost to the UK’s EV infrastructure. Analysts note it could challenge established players by focusing on commercial niches, potentially fostering partnerships or acquisitions. No controversies or setbacks reported; the startup is seen as innovative, with ex-Tesla talent driving competition and broader EV adoption.
This research draws from multiple sources, including news articles, company announcements, and social media, representing a balanced view from outlets like Electrek, Electrive, and Crunchbase.
