- IKEA’s Australian branch is set to invest $4.5m into a nationwide charging network across IKEA locations, to support its expanding fleet of electric delivery vans and trucks.
- The network, built in collaboration with Australian EV charging infrastructure supplier JET Charge, will reach 10 retail stores and the company’s Sydney distribution centre.
- The installation will help increase the use of zero emission vehicles for delivery, with 40% of deliveries already made in zero emission vehicles, and contribute to the global IKEA target for 100% of deliveries to be fully-electric by 2025.
IKEA invests in electric
The scheme will involve six charge points at each of the ten retail sites selected, whilst another 28 chargers will be installed at its central distribution warehouse in Sydney, and the scheme is set to be completed by the end of the year. The scheme should help boost the share of electric vehicles delivering Swedish furniture across the country, with EVs accounting for 40% of IKEA’s Australian home deliveries as of May 2024. The company’s Australian arm was also the first home furnishings chain in the country to begin the use of EVs for delivery, back in 2019.
Whilst this move specifically focuses on chargers for the business side of IKEA, stores worldwide should start to gain more and more EV chargers for public use, as we saw in a recent collaboration between Mer and IKEA Germany.
Alexandra Kelly, Zero Emissions Delivery Lead at IKEA Australia, commented:
“We have made exciting progress with electrifying our fleet, especially in the last 12 months, but we know a significant barrier for our delivery partners being able to make the switch to an electric vehicle is limited access to charging infrastructure… By investing in a national network of dedicated chargers for electric trucks and vans at all IKEA sites, we are providing access to electric charging at the point of fulfilment where orders are being picked up.”
Tim Washington, CEO of JET Charge, added:
“The reliability of EV charging infrastructure is fundamental to the adoption of electric fleets, particularly within the logistics sector where every morning counts. IKEA trucks and vans need to be fully charged and ready to make deliveries without fail. With over a decade of expertise in EV charging conceptual design, energy management, and advanced technological integration, JET Charge is committed to ensuring that all IKEA sites are not only safe but also resilient. We are proud to partner with visionary companies like IKEA to enable them to deliver sustainably and on time for their customers.”
