Ultra-rapid EV chargers will be deployed at 26 B&Q stores over the coming 12 months, thanks to a partnership between the DIY retailer and RAW Charging.
The move comes following an £11 million investment by RAW Charging to develop EV charging points designed for the trades.
As well as high-power DC charging, the bays in which the ultra-rapid EV chargers will be placed have been designed to be spacious and will include longer dwell-time options so customers can take their time while they shop.
RAW Charging said grid upgrades and high-voltage connections will be delivered where required as the roll-out of the new chargers continues in earnest. The first wave of installations has started, with EV chargers already in place at B&Q’s Cheltenham, Sidcup, Boston, Stanmore, and Galashiels stores.
Kingsley Mack, director of property at B&Q, commented: “B&Q is committed to reducing our impact on the environment and to helping our customers to live more sustainably.
“Working with RAW Charging, we’re helping to make it easier for our customers to charge their electric cars and vans by offering ultra-fast, convenient, high-quality EV charging points.”
Neil Broadbank, chief commercial officer at RAW Charging, said the EV charging infrastructure being rolled out at B&Q “genuinely supports how people work today”.
“By integrating high-quality EV charging into these locations, the partnership supports both economic productivity and the UK’s transition to cleaner transport,” he argued.
“Tradespeople and commercial vehicles are central to the UK economy, and they need charging that is reliable, fast and located where it fits naturally into their day. This rollout is about more than installing chargers – it’s about powering productivity, supporting the transition to electric vans, and connecting destinations with the infrastructure that drivers can trust.”
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[image credit: B&Q/Kingfisher plc]
