Sainsbury’s own-brand EV charging network expands, with hub opened near the M1

• Sainsbury’s became the first UK supermarket to open a charging network owned and managed at all levels earlier this month, which has now rapidly expanded to over 24 locations.
• This updated number can be attributed to a new charging station at its Fosse Park store in Leicester, with 12 ultra-rapid charge points now available at the store – located just off the M1 corridor, making it a convenient stop off point for journeys up north and down south.
• Another six charging points will be added to this site by the summer, making it the largest Smart Charge hub within Sainsbury’s network.

Another station added to the Smart Charge network

Sainsbury’s has named its new network of chargers Smart Charge, with the underlying technology provided by charging solution company Kempower. All chargers under its new network are capable of 150kW-plus charging speeds, whilst these bays will be spaced out in order to ensure accessibility for disabled customers and those with children. Sainsbury’s future plans for expansion are significant, as it plans to have over 750 charge points across around 100 stores by the end of the year.

You can see the locations of the supermarket’s current EV charging hubs here, but Sainsbury’s hasn’t officially published a list of which future supermarkets will receive its EV charging treatment. However, ElectricDrives has spotted signs promoting Smart Charge bays ‘coming soon’ at its East Filton store in Bristol.

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Speaking on the development, Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement, and EV Ventures, said:

“We know that demand for speedy, reliable charging facilities in the UK continues to grow and that’s why we’ve brought Smart Charge, our new best-in-class EV charging service, to Fosse Park. We hope EV drivers will enjoy the added convenience and choice this new ultra-rapid hub provides, giving them confidence that they can top up or do a full charge at a Leicester location that’s handy for the M1. What’s more, they can even grab a coffee or pick up some groceries while they’re there.”