COUNTY Durham has set out its green credentials for the future by opening one of the first rapid charging stations for electric vehicles in the region.

Fastned, the European rapid charging company, who has set up thousands of charging facilities across the continent, travelled to the A688 in Barnard Castle yesterday (February 21) – where it unveiled its most recent addition to its network.  

Located on the town’s main access road, the station is Teesdale’s first rapid charging station for electric vehicles.

Read more: Electric cars: all your charging questions answered

Comprising six chargers, each supplied by 100 per cent renewable energy, and are capable of adding up to 100 miles of range to fully electric cars in half an hour, the station is the seventh Fastned station in the North East, and will serve the fast growing community of EV drivers in the area.

According to the charging company, ten per cent of all electric vehicles (EVs) registered in the UK are driven on the North East’s roads, with this proportion only increasing - registration of EVs is up 45 per cent in 2021 in the North East.

The opening of the station in Barnard Castle follows on from the town seeing its best year for tourists in 2021 - up by 20 per cent compared to 2019.

The Northern Echo: The EV station was opened yesterday (February 21) at an official unveiling. Picture: FASTNED.The EV station was opened yesterday (February 21) at an official unveiling. Picture: FASTNED.

Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager and Network Development Manager for Fastned, said: “Long known locally for its history and beauty, Barnard Castle has become one of the best known and popular tourist destinations in the UK in the past year.

"We are delighted to bring fast, reliable charging to the town, providing a service to residents that is becoming more and more important and making Barnard Castle an even more attractive destination for visitors from across the UK.

“Our great relationships with local leaders in the North East have enabled us to roll out a number of stations as part of public tenders, laying the groundwork for this completely Fastned funded rapid charging station - the first for Teesdale - and more that we have planned for the region.

The Northern Echo: Fastned has opened hundreds of stations in Europe. Picture: FASTNED.Fastned has opened hundreds of stations in Europe. Picture: FASTNED.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, added: “It is great to see both the public and private sector working towards improving the county’s electrical vehicle infrastructure to make it more accessible for residents who use them.

“Switching from a standard fuel vehicle to an electric one significantly reduces the carbon emissions of a journey.

The Northern Echo: One of the EV station chargers. Picture: FASTNED.One of the EV station chargers. Picture: FASTNED.

"As a council we have established a Climate Emergency Response Plan which outlines several programmes we are undertaking to tackle climate change, including increasing the availability of electric vehicle charge points.

"This new station aligns with our current climate plan and ambitions to reduce carbon emissions across the county.”

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