Sainsbury’s has announced Smart Charge, the first EV charging network run by a UK supermarket and it’s set to roll-out nationwide by the end of 2024.
If you cast your mind back to August 2021, Electrical Review took a look at the UK supermarkets with the most EV charging points and Sainsbury’s was notably absent – as the supermarket chain was mostly devoid of a nationwide strategy back then. Fast forward to 2024, and it seems the company is going all-in on EV charging.
Technically there are already Sainsbury’s stores with EV charging facilities, but these are typically run by a slew of different companies. For instance, Sainsbury’s in Abbey Wood in London has 20 connectors from Pod Point, the same company that is rolling out chargers for Tesco and Lidl in the UK, while the Sainsbury’s in New Charlton has as many as 74 connectors from BP Pulse.
Now, Sainsbury’s is taking a different approach, and rather than partnering with a bunch of different EV charging networks to speed up the rollout of chargers at its stores, it’s launching its own network.
Unlike the chargers you’ll find at existing stores, the company’s Smart Charge network is set to concentrate on ultra-rapid chargers, offering speeds of at least 150 kW. This should be able to fully charge many electric vehicles in around 30 minutes, which is perfect as the average length of a supermarket trip in the UK is estimated to be 37 minutes.
Why Sainsbury’s has decided to take its EV charging strategy in-house
Sainsbury’s decision to launch Smart Charge is a unique one, especially compared to the approach other UK supermarkets have taken. Tesco and Lidl have Pod Point, Asda has Engie, Morrisons has a close relationship with GeniePoint, while Waitrose is leaning on Shell for its EV charging roll-out.
Despite the peculiarities of the announcement, Sainsbury’s does have a good reason for launching its own network – control. The company says that around 80% of EV drivers avoid long journeys due to concerns about EV charging stations, with the biggest issues surrounding both malfunctioning chargers and insufficient charging speeds.
By taking control of the EV charging network itself, Sainsbury’s can focus on scaling the number of chargers at each store based on demand, while it also has an extra incentive to ensure the chargers are working – as drivers will be spending money in-store while their vehicles are charging.
Although it should be noted that while the smart charging network is owned and managed by Sainsbury’s in-house, it isn’t entirely alone. The technology and equipment for the service are supplied by Kempower, which is also a supplier of Osprey Charging, one of the largest rapid electric vehicle charging networks in the UK.
When will Sainsbury’s Smart Charge launch its first chargers?
Sainsbury’s Smart Charge is already available at over 20 stores across the UK, offering 24/7 accessible charging bays compatible with fully electric vehicles. However, the company has aggressive expansion plans for the EV charging network.
Under its current plans, Sainsbury’s hopes to offer a total of 750 ultra-rapid charging bays across more than 100 stores by the end of 2024. While the majority of those chargers will be 150 kW, the company has teased that the Smart Charge network could offer a few 300 kW chargers – offering even faster charging speeds.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement & EV Ventures, commented, “As EV ownership continues to rise, it’s concerning to see the prevalence of range anxiety among drivers. Smart Charge, with its focus on ultra-rapid 150kW+ chargers, aims to alleviate these concerns by providing a swift and reliable charging solution, coupled with the convenience of shopping at our stores.”
Anthony Browne, Minister for Technology and Decarbonisation, also acknowledged the important role of businesses in expanding EV infrastructure and commended Sainsbury’s for its adoption of ultra-rapid technology.