Tesco and Volkswagen team up to install electric car charging points at 600 supermarkets

Tesco and Volkswagen are planning to install free electric car charging ports at 600 stores, the companies announced today.

Over the next three years Britain’s largest supermarket will roll out more than 2,400 electric vehicle charging points at Tesco Extra and Superstore car parks, representing a 14 per cent increase in public charge bays across the UK.

Customers will be able to charge electric cars for free using a 7kW charger or pay to use a rapid 50kW charger, which will be installed by Pod Point.

Tesco chief executive Jason Tarry said: “This is part of our wider commitment to addressing the environmental challenges that matter most to our customers, colleagues and communities.

“We want to be the leading electric vehicle energy provider and to support our customers with more sustainable solutions. Our electric vehicle network provides a sustainable choice for our customers and charging while they shop is another little help to make their lives easier.”

Earlier this year the government announced a target for at least 50 per cent of new car sales to be ultra low emission by 2030, and launched a £400m charging infrastructure investment fund. 

Department for Transport electric vehicles minister Jesse Norman said: “The government is committed to making the UK the best place in the world to build and own an electric vehicle.

“For that we need high quality infrastructure in place to support ultra-low emission vehicles around the country.

“The government set out plans in its Road to Zero strategy to deliver a significant increase in this infrastructure and we welcome Tesco’s pledge to roll out over 2,400 new charge bays across their stores.”