Lidl, which has plans to open 50 new stores in GB in 2019, has announced plans to install rapid electric vehicle chargers at all of them.
It will also install charging points at existing stores. That should mean rapid chargers are installed at over 300 Lidl stores over the next three years, representing a total investment of over £25M, the company said.
The points, which can charge vehicles from 0-80% in around 50 mins, will be operated by Pod Point and can be used via the company’s Open Charge mobile app. Chargers will have their own allocated and marked parking bays for use, and stores with charge points can be viewed via the Lidl app or on Zap-Map and Pod Point’s maps, as and when they are rolled out.
Ingo Fischer, chief development officer for Lidl GB, said: “Not only will our customers be able to charge their electric cars in 50 mins – less time than it takes to do a big shop – they will be able to do it for the best price on the market. It is our hope that, through this significant investment, we will enable easier access to charging points, ultimately helping more households switch to electric vehicles.”
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