Sainsbury’s has launched an exciting new service in Fosse Park, Leicester with the introduction of a brand-new ultra-rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub at its store at the Grove Farm Triangle.
Offering EV drivers speed, reliability and competitive prices the arrival of the new Smart Charge hub, which is easily accessible from the M1 motorway, represents a major boost to public EV charging options in the area.
‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging currently available on the market and the new service will allow customers to charge Electric Vehicles in as little as 30 minutes – providing enough power to travel up to 200 miles – rather than waiting for longer with a slower alternative.
Whether EV users are local, visiting or just passing by, they can now take advantage of 12 ultra-rapid 150kW+ Smart Charge bays at Sainsbury’s Fosse Park, offering a sustainable power source for all types of EVs and for all drivers – not just those shopping in-store. Six more bays are due to be added by the summer, which will make it the largest Smart Charge hub available in the UK and ensure there is plenty of capacity for everyone who wants to use it.
Easily identifiable under the recently launched Smart Charge brand, the new charging hub is located in the store’s car park. The bays have been designed to be easily accessible for disabled customers, as well as those with young children, thanks to the additional space provided around and between bays.
Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement & 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.”
Smart Charge is the first and only EV charging business to be fully owned and managed end-to-end by a UK supermarket and is now available via over 200 ultra-rapid charging bays at 24 Sainsbury’s locations. New charging hubs are being added to the Smart Charge network throughout the UK regularly and more information is available at www.smartcharge.co.uk.
The service is intended to help advance the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK, supporting the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
