EQUANS, the new name for ENGIE’s services-led activity, has reached a major milestone through its rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging partnership with supermarket chain Morrisons. In total, the partnership has now enabled customers to save 2,000 tonnes of carbon and has dispensed 2,500 megawatt hours of energy – enough to power a vehicle around the planet 350 times.
Powered by EQUANS’ GeniePoint network, there are currently over 200 charge points at Morrisons stores across the UK. Each EV charging point is available for use by customers, offering convenient recharging as they shop at any Morrisons store. EV drivers can locate the charge points along the most popular driving routes in the UK, stretching from Redruth in Cornwall to Amble in the North East of England.
“Reaching such key milestones with our ongoing partnership with Morrisons is a huge achievement and evidences both the continued growth within the EV market and the strength of the relationship between our two businesses,” said Dee Humphries, Managing Director of EV Solutions at EQUANS UK & Ireland.
“The continued expansion of the GeniePoint network with Morrisons will provide even more customers with access to rapid charging facilities in key locations. Supermarkets play a key role in the uptake of electric vehicle use by offering convenient charging, helping to make the transition to EV easier. This will ultimately support the UK’s goals to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”
Such growth in EV chargers at supermarkets is certainly an ongoing trend. Last year, Zap-Map found that the number of EV charge points at supermarkets had doubled over the previous two years, according to data analysed by Zap-Map and the RAC.
GeniePoint chargers at Morrisons are 50kW rapid charge points (many have a 22kW Type 2 connector as well) meaning that customers can typically expect their EV to reach an 80% charge within 45 minutes.
“We know customers don’t want to spend hours waiting for their cars to charge, which is why we’ve made the decision to install the next generation of rapid chargers. It’s important that we continue to offer our customers the convenience of charging their EVs as they shop or eat with us,” said Andrew Ball, Fuel & Services Manager of Morrisons.
As part of the ongoing partnership, a roll out of rapid GeniePoint charging facilities at Morrisons stores in Scotland has now begun.
All GeniePoint chargers, including its 200+ Morrisons sites, will soon be Zap-Pay enabled.
EQUANS, the company that owns and runs the GeniePoint network, brings together ENGIE’s UK & Ireland services-led activity under a new brand. All of ENGIE’s UK and Ireland activity in technical services and facilities management, energy efficiency and regeneration are now part of EQUANS – along with specialist energy related capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district and embedded energy and decentralised renewables.
Zap-Map and EQUANS recently signed an agreement to include GeniePoint in the Zap-Pay partner network. The companies have begun work on technical integration, which is due be completed in August. Once finalised, GeniePoint will be fully up and running as an established Zap-Pay partner. GeniePoint will become the fourth network to come online with Zap-Pay.
