A new ultra-rapid charging hub has opened just off the A1, providing a quick charging boost for up to eight electric cars at any one time.

Fastned, the European fast-charging company. has launched the hub at the Forrest Park, Newton Aycliffe services.

The site is located just north of Darlington, near the Aycliffe interchange which joins with the A167 on the outskirts of Newton Aycliffe. It will have the capacity to expand to ten charging bays as demand increases.

It will give existing, and future, 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.

  • If you want more business content and insight - backed by our commitment to help the North East grow - sign up for £4 for 4 months, right through the General Election and beyond . Just CLICK HERE

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. Fastned’s charging network spans the length and breadth of the county with many charging hubs in the region, including Barnard Castle, Sunderland, Washington and Newcastle.

Cllr Mark Wilkes, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “We are pleased that County Durham has been chosen as the location to open another charging hub.

"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.”

Tom Hurst, UK Country Manager for 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.”