On February 19, on the Vilnius–Klaipėda highway (156th kilometer) in Lithuania, the second Eldrive electric vehicle (EV) charging park in Lithuania and the Baltic States was officially opened. According to Tomas Tamašauskas, Country manager of Eldrive Lietuva, this park can charge up to 20 electric vehicles at the same time, and the total investment in the project exceeds two million euros. It is the first such charging park on the country’s main highway.
“This is yet another important step in promoting e-mobility in Lithuania. The number of electric vehicles in our country is constantly growing and currently stands at almost 17,000, so the need for these kinds of projects will only increase. This location is halfway between Vilnius and Klaipėda—an ideal spot to charge yourEV when traveling to or from the seaside, whether heading back to Vilnius,Kaunas, or other cities. Entry to the park will be possible from both sides of the highway,” says T. Tamašauskas.
Stefan Spassov, CEO of Eldrive, also highlighted the significance of this development:
“This step is extremely important for Eldrive and for the future of electric mobility in the region. With this new charging park, we are reaffirming our commitment to providing a convenient, reliable, and sustainable travel experience for all electric vehicle drivers. We believe this milestone sets the tone for continued innovation in cleaner transportation solutions across the region.”
The head of Eldrive Lietuva adds that the charging park is equipped with 10 ultra-fast charging stations, along with a Caffeine café and a Narvesen store on-site:
“We have installed ten 200 kW charging stations that allow drivers to quickly charge their electric vehicles and continue their journey. Given market trends, we plan to install additional charging stations in the future, some of which will also be suitable for heavy electric vehicles,” explains T. Tamašauskas.
Energy Vice-Minister Airidas Daukšas, who participated in the opening ceremony, noted that the Ministry of Energy will continue its efforts to expand the EV charging station network in Lithuania so that the necessary infrastructure is even more accessible to every user.
“We are part of the positive changes in the EV infrastructure. We are delighted not only by the emergence of individual charging stations, but also by the entire charging-park ecosystem. This park will ensure a convenient and efficient charging experience for drivers and passengers, changing travel habits and dispelling the myth that traveling by EV is inconvenient due to a lack of charging points or long queues,” said A. Daukšas at the park’s opening.
Vice - ministerof Transportation Roderikas Žiobakas highlighted inhis congratulatory speech that such projects are significant for popularizinge-mobility in Lithuania. He also expressed hope that similar charging parkswill appear along regional roads in the country.
“I am pleased thatmore and more public charging points for electric vehicles are opening inLithuania. I also invite operators to consider not only the main arteries ofthe country’s roads, but to set up in other regions, too. These areas also haveEV drivers in a hurry or people who simply want to stop and take a break,” saidR. Žiobakas.
One of the project’s main partners is Reitan Convenience Lithuania, which manages the Caffeine and Narvesen brands. Its director, Saulius Žilėnas, says that the project is yet another significant step in Lithuania, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability.
“This location marks a new stage—until now, Caffeine and Narvesen stores operated only in urban areas, and now we are expanding to highways. The new spot is open to everyone looking to pause, rest, or enjoy coffee and freshly made snacks on-site. Our highway locations replicate the atmosphere of our city cafés,which our customers value most, while also offering a modern Narvesen with an extended range of fresh food that can be enjoyed on the spot or taken on the go. Essentially, this changes the perception of intercity stops and provides customers with a pleasant,high-quality break while traveling,” says S. Žilėnas.
Eldrive has recently secured EUR 40mn venture debt financing from EIB and EUR 15mn equity financing by EBRD. By 2028, Eldrive will install and operate 7,400 new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria in addition to the 2000 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.
Charging Park Near Varėna Set to Open in June
It was previously announced that the first EV-dedicated charging park opened on December 11 last year. As T. Tamašauskas explains, the start was very promising:
“The beginning certainly hasn’t disappointed—we see a considerable number of EV drivers and visitors stopping by daily, not just to charge their vehicles, but also to take a break during their trip.”
T. Tamašauskas revealed that the third Eldrive charging park will begin operations soon, with plans to open in June of this year:
“It will be a slightly smaller version of the project, featuring a Caffeine café and five ultra-fast charging stations, with a planned capacity of up to 400 kW. Our goal is to create a network of charging parks that ensures smooth travel by electric vehicle. This is our company’s strategic direction, and we are very pleased to see it become a reality.”
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 2000 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.
