- UK CPO Be.EV has partnered with AAAZ Investments to install chargers at a site in Blackburn, which already features a Tesco Express grocery store on site.
- In a £223,000 investment from Be.EV, two 150kW ultra-rapid chargers from Kempower have been installed at the site, allowing EVs to add as much as 80% charge in only 20 minutes.
- The site carries multiple benefits, both increasing EV infrastructure in the local area and boosting revenue for the site’s landlord, through more interest from prospective businesses as on-site chargers become a key deciding factor.
The merging of EV charging and groceries continues
The new chargers owned and operated by Be.EV have been installed at AAAZ Investments’ site on Livesy Branch Road, Blackburn, which contains a handful of businesses including a high-traffic Tesco Express store. Not only will the chargers benefit local residents and EV drivers visiting the on-site businesses, but its close proximity to the M65 motorway will also make it yet another ultra-rapid charging option for those travelling on the UK’s major roads.
This installation is part of a larger trend we’re seeing when it comes to UK retail stores. For Tesco’s larger stores, it employs a partnership with Pod Point and Vauxhall for on-site EV charging. Similarly, UK supermarket chain Waitrose has an ongoing partnership with Shell Recharge to install EV charging points across many of its stores, whilst Sainsbury’s has deployed a different strategy, forming its own in-house CPO, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge.
Charge points at such sites are helping to boost visitor numbers and foster store loyalty, which will become ever more crucial as the number of EVs on UK roads is set to surge in the coming years. CPOs such as Be.EV have a key role to play in allowing these collaborations to take place.
Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, commented:
“We’re very happy that AAAZ Investments have put their trust in us to deliver this solution at this site on Livesey Branch Road.
As the EV transition continues to build momentum, asset managers with shops will need to incorporate solutions that fit shoppers’ lifestyles if they want people to visit their stores, and ultra-rapid charging is the way to do this.”
A spokesperson from AAAZ Investments added:
“EV charging has become much more of a priority for us as more EVs hit the road, so it’s important to us to get EV charging at our sites before they become the most common vehicle on the road.
t was important for us to work with an experienced partner who could advise us on getting the right chargers and make everything as simple as possible, which is exactly what Be.EV has done. This new site will be a welcome addition for local residents and drivers on longer journeys.”
