Zap-Insights: EV charging at supermarkets

Zap-Insights: EV charging at supermarkets

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Zapmap
Published

Supermarkets are a regular destination for drivers, and hence an important location for EV charging points. This analysis of the Zap-Map database, looks at the profile of charging points by supermarket brand, speed and network to see how the provision is developing.

Almost 170 new devices have been installed at supermarket car parks across the UK this year bringing the total to 573 devices at 295 locations, providing 1,096 connectors. However, the number of supermarkets offering EV charging for customers still only represents 3% of the total stores from UK’s main brands. Supermarkets should install more charge points for the benefit of the growing number of EV drivers who will increasingly select their shopping location based on the availability of charging.

ev devices

Leading the way is Asda which, with 222 charge point units providing 432 connectors, represents 39% of the total number of supermarket devices. The next highest figure is Sainsbury’s with 112 devices, providing 222 connectors – 20% of the total.

Waitrose sits in third place, which provides 76 devices with 154 connectors – six of which are rapid (2 devices), a statistic it shares with Sainsbury’s. Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, has only 23 devices with 45 connectors.

ev locations1

With Asda ahead in terms of total supermarket EV charge points, it is perhaps no surprise that it has the highest percentage of coverage amongst stores per brand. With devices at 119 Asda stores, EV drivers are able to charge at 19% of Asda locations.

Waitrose has devices installed at 11% of its stores, with EV charging available at 39 locations, while Lidl and Sainsbury’s come in third place. Lidl has EV charge points on offer at 22 stores, and Sainsbury’s at 50 locations – both representing 4% of their total locations.

Tesco brings up the rear with only 0.4% of its 3739 locations having charging points available, behind Morrisons, Aldi, and Co-op with 3%, 2%, and 1% of their locations offering EV charging respectively.

connector-speeds

When looking at the profile of Supermarket charge points, it can be seen that the majority, 71%, are Type 2 fast points, 25% slow 3kW connectors and only 4%, or 16 devices are rapid chargers.

rapids supermarket brand

Only four supermarket brands have installed rapid devices to date. Lidl deserves a special mention since, although Lidl only has 27 devices, 11 of them are rapid chargers – the highest number of rapid devices of any supermarket brand. With supermarket shopping habits tending to take under an hour – certainly not the 3-4 hours needed for a full charge on a fast device – the deployment of rapid chargers at stores makes sense for EV drivers.

supermarket charge points networks



Of the 573 devices installed at supermarkets, the POLAR network dominates the market. Its 296 devices are at 165 locations – making up 51% of the total – and can be found predominantly at Asda (202 devices) and Waitrose (72 devices). Following POLAR is POD Point with 162 devices at 88 locations representing 28% of the market; it has 106 devices installed at Sainsbury’s locations, and 27 at Lidl.


It is hoped that the upward trend continues in 2018, with supermarket car parks an obvious place for the installation of charge points. Stores are rarely built without sufficient provision for parking, and shoppers are usually there for at least 10-20 minutes, and often a lot longer. Top-up charging is ideal at this type of location, and supermarket seem to be getting on board with the idea that the growing population of EV drivers will expect charging at supermarkets – an important service which will increase dwell times and loyalty.

Find EV charge points at supermarkets by selecting Retail from the location filters on the Zap-Map app.

Third party use: this data can be used by third parties as long as the source is attributed to Zap-Map and if online, a link is added back to https://www.zap-map.com.

Data source: Number of store locations sourced from Statistica.com, specialist media, and supermarket brand’s own figures; charge point data is sourced from the Zap-Map database. The data is based on information available 20/11/17; new stores are opening regularly and new charge points are being added on a daily basis so figures will change overtime. Not all supermarket locations have car parks and the capability to provide EV charging points.