Lookers agrees national partnership with Zap-Map

Lookers agrees national partnership with Zap-Map

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Zapmap
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Lookers plc has unveiled details of a major partnership with electric vehicle (EV) charging point mapping and data specialist Zap-Map.

One of the UK and Ireland’s top three motor retail and aftersales service groups, Lookers said the collaborative agreement was a significant step forward in its ambition to drive a seamless customer journey to electric motoring in the short and long term. 

From this month, Lookers’ customers will be able to securely access Zap-Map’s interactive software through its online channels, instantly enabling them to quickly pinpoint the locations of thousands of electric charging points across the UK for free. 

Although electric vehicles, or ‘plug-ins’, already account for more than one in 10 of all new cars registered in the UK, recent research from price comparison site uSwitch identified that access to available charging points was the most important motivator in consumers’ decision to go all-electric.  

Lookers’ partnership with Zap-Map will ease this customer hesitancy, enabling them to pinpoint more than 24,000 charge points across the UK in almost 16,000 public locations, with new charge locations added every day. The tools available to customers via the Zap-Map app include an interactive charge point map and calculators for home and public charging as well as journey costs and car tax information. 

Andrew Hall, Business Development Director at Lookers, said: 

“The transition from petrol and diesel to all-electric driving is rapidly advancing and customers want more information, more advice and more support than ever before as they make this important leap to greener transport and travel.

“Committed to delivering quality advice, sales and maintenance of electric vehicles, we are delighted to partner with the UK’s most used and trusted electric charger mapper which marks a new and important milestone for Lookers as we make our way together to a new era of seamless, confident plug-in driving.”  

Lookers said the partnership was a significant early step within a much wider, ambitious electric vehicle strategy.  

Zap-Map’s mission is to make EV charging simple. It is the go-to app for EV drivers, providing an EV charge point mapping services and helping EV drivers to easily locate charge points, plan longer journeys with the route planner, pay for charging on participating networks and share updates with other EV drivers. 

It also affords users instant access to myth-busting tools and data designed to empower motorists with the reassuring knowledge they need to make the switch to an EV and then drive with confidence. 

Chief Operating Officer at Lookers, Duncan McPhee, said: 

“Lookers is committed to playing a leading role in the national electric vehicle rollout which will be transformative to our economy and society in realising our collective net-zero carbon ambitions.

“As well as providing the quality vehicles, expertise, experience and support our customers want, we look forward to investing in new and exciting initiatives, research and projects that will significantly enhance the experience of the EV transition for everyone.”

Backed by Good Energy, the leading renewable energy company, Zap-Map is the UK’s leading app and digital platform for electric vehicle drivers to search for charge points, plan longer journeys, pay on participating networks, and share updates with other EV drivers. 

With more than 95 percent of all public charge points mapped and around 70 percent of charge points showing live availability status, Zap-Map provides drivers with peace of mind and the confidence to drive any length of journey. 

In addition to the charge point map, the partnership will see Lookers adding some interactive tools to the website, helping answer important questions about the cost of charging and how long it takes. It will also help to compare the costs of an EV with any petrol or diesel car.

Richard Bourne, interim chief executive officer of Zap-Map, said: 

“Zap-Map helps all drivers to seamlessly search for charge points, plan their journeys and easily pay for their power. Showing prospective EV drivers how simple it is to own and charge their vehicle will be crucial in accelerating the fast-growing adoption of electric vehicles.

“This partnership with Lookers, one of the UK and Ireland’s largest and most ambitious car retailers, significantly advances our joint goal for growth and our ambition to support even more customers on their journey ahead and we look forward to working closely with the team in the months and years ahead.”

Founded in 1908, Lookers is one of the largest multi-franchise dealer groups in the UK and Ireland, representing 33 volume and premium car manufacturers and specialising in new and used electric car sales across a network of over 150 franchised locations.