UK's first ever drive-thru EV charging hub to be built in Aberdeen after councillors give project go-ahead

Plans to build the UK’s first drive-thru ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging hub have been given the green light.

Aberdeen City councillors gave charging infrastructure specialists at Fastned the go-ahead to build the “revolutionary” first-of-its-kind facility inside one of the city’s warehouses on Thursday.

The hub will feature 12 ultra-rapid charging bays, providing drivers with up to 100 miles of range in just five minutes using 400kW chargers.

It will also feature a shop, toilets, and a seating area inside the building, which will keep drivers comfortable while they charge.

Fastned has been granted planning permission to construct the UK’s first indoor drive-thru ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging hub in Aberdeen. Planning drawings show what the finished product could look like. Fastned

The UK director at Fastned, Tom Hurst, said the concept is a “really revolutionary approach” to EV charging that will “transform the charging experience for many customers”.

“I’m over the moon that Aberdeen City Council has supported our application and given us the green light. This means we can break ground at the site as soon as possible and kick-start this very exciting project,” he said.

The project has also been praised by the Scottish transport secretary.

Fiona Hyslop said the new hub is a “really positive development” to support Scotland’s vision for public EV charging.

She said it’s a great example of how “public ambition and private sector investment” can support the shift to electric vehicles.

“We’ve already achieved our target of 6,000 public charge points two years ahead of schedule thanks to a combination of public funding and increasing private sector investment, with the private sector now responsible for more than two thirds of Scotland’s public EV charging,” Hyslop said.

“This new hub would be the first of its kind in the UK, showing Scotland really can lead the way in transforming how people choose to travel.”

The site will make use of the Grampian House warehouse off Virginia Street, which forms part of Aberdeen’s inner city ring road.

Fastned aims to open the EV charging hub in winter 2026.