Waitrose has deployed workplace EV charging at its Bracknell distribution centre.
A total of 14 22kW rapid electric vehicle (EV) charge points have been installed at the depot in a move aimed at encouraging more employees to switch to EVs and to assist those members of staff who have already switched from fossil fuel-run vehicles.
Flowbird was the company recruited to install the workplace EV charging points. The business worked alongside electric charge point manufacturer, Easee, to design, install, and commission the charge points.
Waitrose already features Flowbird’s parking technology in 20 stores across the UK for its shoppers. Installations at further Waitrose sites – both for employees and customers – are expected in the months ahead.
The supermarket chain’s parent, John Lewis Partnership (JLP), has set itself an ambition to operate a fleet that is free of fossil fuels by 2030. It has already pledged to electrify its light commercial vehicle and business car fleet with the target of zero carbon operations by 2035.
Lots of the work JLP is doing from an environmental perspective was covered in Green Retail World’s interview with the group’s sustainability & ethics boss, Marija Rompani, earlier this year.
Jackie Hewson, alternative fuel implementation manager at Waitrose, commented: “We want to make it as easy as possible for our partners to go electric.
“We appreciate that not everyone has a charger at home, and so believe that providing workplace charging is key to supporting the EV transition and establishing more sustainable depot operations. Working with Flowbird has made things easy since they have both the charging and payment infrastructure to make it work.”
Danny Hassett, managing director at Flowbird UK, added: “This has been a natural progression for a company with a background in installing infrastructure in car parks, in addition to all the physical and digital payments and data capability that goes with it.”
He added that warehouse and logistics hubs are “prime locations” for workplace EV charging point investments.
[Image credit: Waitrose/John Lewis Partnership]
