Today the very first electric vehicle (EV) charging park in Lithuania and the Baltic States was officially opened. The facility is situated on the Panevėžys bypass of the Via Baltica highway. This charging park is owned, built and operated by Eldrive and can charge up to 20 electric cars simultaneously, with individual charging points offering output of 200 kW DC and overall installed capacity of over 2 MW. This is the first EV charging facility of such  scale and type in Lithuania and the Baltic region, and one of the very few in the EU. The company plans to expand this park with more stations, including charging infrastructure for electric buses and trucks, and to implement BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) on the location. Multiple such charging parks will be build on main roads and transportation corridors in Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria in 2025.  
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The Eldrive charging park is spanning on an area of 1.5 hectares and includes a318-square-meter building with photovoltaics on the roof, featuring cafés, aparents’ rooms as well as work and relaxation spaces. These types of sites are unique and completely lacking in the Baltic States and Europe, but also extremely rare worldwide. The main difference between a charging hub, which Eldrive has been building for several years, and charging parks is that, apart from the scale, the operator is the leading element in the ecosystem. In addition to fast and convenient charging, a whole range of partner goods and services are made available to the user - food, drinks, shops. It's an ecosystem that goes far beyond a small coffee shop or vending machine.  The consumer is offered a range of high-quality amenities and a variety of premium goods and services. These types of venues 'flip' the traditional business model in the sector and cater to all customer wants and needs.
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"I am very proud that after two years of intensive work, we are opening the first of its kind charging park in Lithuania and the region." says Tomas Tamašauskas, CEO of Eldrive Lithuania. "We strongly believe it will make a significant contribution to the development of electric mobility. The number of EVs in our country is rapidly growing and we are making sure that the demand for quality charging service on a premium locations will be met by our network.", he added.
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The Eldrive charging park features 10 fast charging stations with capacity of 200kW DC and the option to be upgraded to 400 kW DC. Along with the charging infrastructure, the park features a "Caffeine" café and a "Narvesen" store. With the development of electric mobility in the region such facilities will play a significant role in supporting the electrification of commercial auto fleets, including cargo transportation. As battery technology advances and more fleet operators embrace electric truck sand delivery vans, large-scale charging parks like this one will facilitate convenient, high-capacity charging solutions along key transport corridors.
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Saulius Žilėnas, the head of "Reitan Convenience Lithuania," which operates the "Caffeine" and "Narvesen" brands, noted that this project is another important developmental step for Lithuania, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability. "We aim to be close to our customers – this is one of our strategic goals. Together with 'Eldrive Lithuania,' we carefully selected the locations. Both this site and future ones where we will set up with partners will be in Lithuania’s most heavily traveled highway and road segments. The EV charging park opened today effectively connects the Baltic capitals, Vilnius and Riga. It’s also significant because it’s one of the first locations in the Baltic region to offer both 'Caffeine' and 'Narvesen' under one roof. The retail space caters to those in a hurry who can use the drive-in service, as well as those who wish to stop and relax. We’ll offer eco-friendly coffee and a wide selection of snacks prepared on-site," said S. Žilėnas.
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"I sincerely hope that the first-ever charging park for electric vehicles, opened today, will provide a strong impetus for further development of such infrastructure in Lithuania. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the implementation of this important project." commented Eugenijus Sabutis, Minister of Transport of Lithuania.
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Earlier in 2024 The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) made an equity investment of €15 million in Eldrive Holding GmbH (Eldrive). By 2028,Eldrive will install and operate 7,400 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria in addition to the 1600 it already operates, expanding the EV infrastructure currently available in those countries. The EBRD will invest alongside Renalfa Solarpro Group, Eldrive’s owner, in the first phase of development. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is also providing a €40 million venture debt facility.
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"Eldrive Lithuania" is exploring the use of Guarantees of Origin (GoO) or similar green certificates to ensure the electricity provided at its stations is from renewable sources, effectively compensating the carbon footprint of the charging process. Where applicable in Lithuania, these certificates help maintain the highest sustainability standards and reassure customers that their EV charging contributes to a cleaner, greener future.

About Eldrive

Eldrive Holding GmbH is an operator of public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Lithuania,  Romania and Bulgaria. The Company operates more than 1600 public charging points with main focus on fast and super-fast charging and has an ambitious plan for further development and expansion. Eldrive facilitates the acceleration of EV uptake and bolsters the decarbonisation of transport, critical at this early stage of market development.