A brand new, Zap-Pay compatible, ultra-rapid 300kW Fastned charging hub has opened just off the A1.
The hub can be found at Forrest Park, Newton Aycliffe services, and can provide charging for up to eight electric vehicles (EVs) at any one time. The site has space to expand to ten charging bays as demand increases.
EV drivers travelling to and from the North East and around County Durham will be able to extend their range by up to 300 miles in as little as 20 minutes with 100% renewable energy.
The launch means Fastned now has 25 hubs in the UK, and its second in County Durham, where the company worked with Durham County Council to identify the site.
The new charging hub features Fastned’s illuminated yellow wings, which help EV drivers locate the site easily and show drivers who have not yet made the switch to electric that ultra-rapid charging is available to them.
“County Durham has supported us from early on when we opened our first hub in the county at Barnard Castle in 2022,” commented Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager.
“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.”
Fastned and Zapmap share a live data partnership, this allows users of the Zapmap app and web map to access the live status and availability of every Fastned charge point at any time.
Fastned hub, Forrest Park - Photo credit: Zapmap user markwardy14
“We are pleased that County Durham has been chosen as the location to open another charging hub,” said Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change.
“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. Travel is a key part of this, including giving people the option to make their journeys more sustainable.”
Fastned was voted the UK’s best-rated en-route charging network by Zapmap users in our annual survey for its reliability and simple payment options, including Zap-Pay, the simple way to pay for charging within the Zapmap app.
