Supermarkets are getting charged up.

The number of rapid chargers at the shops have more than doubled in less than two years. Now they number in excess of 450, according to new data from Zap-Map and the RAC. Analysis shows almost 1,000 new electric vehicle (EV) charge points have been installed at supermarkets in the past 21 months.

Shopping around

Now the total number of EV charger units on their sites has bit 2,059. This is an increase of 85% from 1,112 in January 2020, equating to 8% of all the UK’s 26,000 publicly accessible charge points.

The total number of stores now offering charging facilities for battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles has also more than doubled. From 607 in early 2020, there are now 1,300.

Tesco has added more EV chargers than any other supermarket. The chain has installed 641 devices, giving it a total of 922 across its 4,008 stores. This is 676 more than its nearest EV charging rival Asda ,which has 246 chargers.

This means the supermarket giant now has charging facilities at 514 of its sites – 372 more than at the start of last year. However, due to the size of its portfolio it means only 13% of its stores have the capability to charge an EV.

Racing ahead

Morrisons installed chargers at 112 stores over the 21 months studied by Zap-Map and the RAC. EV facilities are now available at  201 of its sites, meaning  40% of its estate now offers EV charging, the greatest proportion of any supermarket.

Their nearest rival Lidl has chargers at a quarter (24%) of its stores after adding EV facilities at 141 locations to give it 203 sites in total.

Essential shopping

The data shows few supermarkets other than Tesco, Morrisons, Asda and Lidl have, to date, decided to invest heavily in EV chargers for their customers.

RAC director of EVs Sarah Winward-Kotecha believes “charging facilities at supermarkets is very important, and could even help accelerate EV take-up in the first place.

“Rapid charge points, in particular, make it possible to run an EV easily without access to a home charger. Drivers can get their cars topped up in the time it takes them to do their weekly shop.

She is calling on all the supermarket chains to “recognise the vital role they play in encouraging many more drivers to opt for electric cars”.