Installed by Engie EV Solutions’ GeniePoint arm, the chargers purport to charge most models from flat to a full battery within 45 minutes – up to six times faster than traditional “trickle” charging points.
They have been installed at parking bays intended for customer use, with Morrisons having chosen to locate the chargers at bays on the perimeter of its car parks in a bid to help EV drivers find them and to prevent other drivers from obstructing them.
In order to use the chargers, which are being powered with Engie’s “zero-carbon” electricity, customers will need to register for a free GeniePoint account online or through the firm’s smartphone app. GeniePoint is charging 30p per kWh of charge delivered.
“Customers are beginning to take part in the biggest revolution in car design since the internal combustion engine was first developed; we need to follow them and give them the opportunity to charge while they shop,” Morrisons’ fuel and services manager Andrew Ball said.
The 50-100kW chargers are the first to be launched since Morrisons signed a deal with GeniePoint to install 100 EV charging points on its estate by the end of 2019. The retailer claims it is still on track to meet this deadline, with a further 50 charging points earmarked for completion in November and December.
With EVs set to account for more than half of new car sales by 2040, Morrisons is one of several corporates to have invested in charging infrastructure in recent times. In August 2018, Lidl announced it would install EV chargers at 20 of its stores across Ireland. Since then, charging offerings have been launched or expanded by the likes of Tesco, M7 Real Estate , Mitchells & Butlers and Marstons.
Sarah George