In partnership with Pod Point and Volkswagen, Tesco has reached half a million electric vehicle charging points in the mission to provide free EV charging across 600 of its stores.
The rollout was first announced in 2018 and aimed to install 2,400 of its chargers at 600 supermarkets across the UK, and the scheme has just installed its 500,000 charging point.
The initiative has now provided EV drivers with three million kWh of free carbon-neutral electricity. Based on the average new petrol or diesel car sold in the UK, Tesco’s charging points is estimated to have saved 2,120 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Tesco Extra in Slough has been found to be the busiest supermarket in the rollout, with the sockets there having been used over 10,000 times, with Stourbridge, Crawley, Altrincham and Bromley by Bow making it into the top five.
The 7kW chargers being rolled out are free for drivers to charge, as are the 22kW chargers where available, whereas the 50kW chargers will be available for the market rate.
Erik Fairbairn, Pod Point founder and CEO, commented that this new milestone is a ‘testament to the growing appetite for EVs as well as the ease and convenience of the charging experience.’
‘We look forward to powering up even more local areas as we continue our roll out.’
Photo Credit: Pod Point / Tesco
