The charging stations at Furulund Kro mark Fastcharge’s third and forth installation. What makes this site special is that the electricity is supplied directly from a solar power plant located on the opposite side of the road.
Furulund Kro in Stokke, Vestfold, is considered something of a landmark among professional drivers. Now, the charging company Fastcharge—owned by Hafslund, which in turn is owned by the City of Oslo—has opened a new heavy-duty vehicle charging station at the rest area next to the kro.
Solar cells
At the same time, a smaller charging station for heavy vehicles has been opened at Ramsum, just a few kilometers away.
The Furulund site has attracted particular attention because the power comes from a solar facility that has been constructed on so-called “grey areas” along the roadside by the E18. The plant will produce around 500 MWh annually, equivalent to roughly 3,000 charging sessions per year.
“The advantages outweigh the drawbacks”
Asko, one of the companies with many trucks operating on the E18, has welcomed the new station. The company aims to achieve entirely fossil-free transport by 2026 and acquired its first electric truck as early as 2016.
“The benefits of electric trucks far outweigh the disadvantages. They are quiet, emission-free, and more cost-effective compared to diesel trucks,” says Marius Råstad from Asko.
One of Asko’s electric truck drivers, Helene Henden, says the transition to electric has been both exciting and rewarding:
“I’m very satisfied with driving an electric truck. It’s quiet and comfortable, you avoid all the vibrations, and not least the diesel smell. I would not want to go back to diesel,” she says.
An important step
Another voice welcoming the new Furulund station is Marianne Maurbråten Sørsdahl from the Norwegian Truck Owners’ Association (NLF), Vestfold.
“This is a key hub for everyone driving between Southern Norway and Oslo, so it’s very important for us. It will be of great help and represents a vital step toward electrification of the sector,” she says.
Text: Brede Høgseth Wardrum, 05.09.2025
