Fastned has opened a new ultra-rapid (300kW) EV charging hub close to the A1 at the Forrest Park, Newton Aycliffe services.
The site, just north of Darlington, will initially have the capacity to charge eight EVs at any one time, with space to expand to ten charging bays as demand increases.
This will give EV drivers travelling to and from the North East and around County Durham, up to 300 miles of range in 20 minutes powered by 100% renewable energy.
The launch means Fastned now has 25 hubs in the UK, including other charging hubs in the region: Barnard Castle, Sunderland, Washington and Newcastle.
Drivers charging at the Forrest Park hub will have access to a wide range of amenities, including KFC, Spar and McDonald’s.
Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager, Fastned said: “County Durham has supported us from early on when we opened our first hub in the county at Barnard Castle in 2022.
“I’m delighted to be building on this success and opening our second charging hub in County Durham to give drivers in the North East the charging experience and service they deserve.”
Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said, “The additional electric vehicle charge points align with our aim to make electric charging more accessible across the county, where we have secured significant funding for electric vehicle charge points and continue to roll them out across the county.
“The new hub also supports our Climate Emergency Response Plan, through which we are working towards reducing carbon emissions across the county.”
