Supermarket chain Lidl GB has said it is investing £10 million in its EV charging network this financial year, including installing around 100 new rapid chargers at existing stores.
The investment will focus in part on Lidl stores that do not currently offer EV charging, while the discounter says the majority of its newly built stores will also be equipped with rapid chargers as it continues to expand its UK estate.
The latest commitment takes Lidl’s total investment in its EV charging network to £35 million since 2017. Rapid EV charging is currently available at around a third of Lidl GB stores.
The supermarket’s investment comes against a backdrop of continued growth in the UK’s electric vehicle market, with public charging infrastructure under increasing pressure to keep pace.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the number of fully electric cars on UK roads has tripled since the end of 2022, reaching more than 2.1 million.
Yet availability remains an issue for drivers. Department for Transport research found that 47% of EV drivers believe there are not enough public charge points to meet demand, while 24% are dissatisfied with the availability of chargers in their local area.
Lidl is also cutting the cost of using its charging network. From 62p/kWh, the retailer’s rapid charging tariff will fall to 59p/kWh for customers using the Lidl Plus app.
The retailer estimates this could save drivers around £4 per charging session, or approximately £529 a year for regular users.
Lidl said its approach to EV charging is different from many other supermarkets because it owns its charge points outright rather than relying on third-party operators. It has also integrated EV charging payments directly into its own loyalty app through Lidl Plus.
The retailer said its charging network powered 49.1 million miles of electric driving over the past year alone. It estimates this equates to a net carbon saving of around 10,600 tonnes of CO2.
Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, said the expansion of the network was an extension of the retailer’s focus on value.
“For over 30 years, we’ve focused on giving customers the best possible value on their groceries, and our EV network is an extension of that promise,” he said.
“By expanding our rapid chargers, we’re making it as simple and affordable as possible for shoppers to top up while they shop – helping EV drivers save money and supporting more sustainable everyday habits.”
Read more about Lidl on Green Retail World
[image credit: Green Retail World]
