Lincolnshire Co-op is installing 50kW rapid electric vehicle chargers at six of its stores in a bid to encourage more drivers to switch to an electric vehicle.
Already, East Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber are home to 25,000 electric car drivers, with thousands more driving through the area.
Lincolnshire Co-op’s first electric vehicle charger is now up and running at its Albert Street Food Store in Newark, with another charging point is being installed at Old Leake Food Store near Boston.
The food stores at Long Bennington, Alford, Dunholme and Morton near Gainsborough will also get chargers this month and a further two sites are currently being confirmed.
The initiative builds on the society’s commitment to renewable energy. All the electricity used in its outlets comes from wind or hydro-electric energy sources.
The Ultracharge 50kW rapid chargers operate on the Polar electric vehicle charging network, which uses 100% renewable electricity. They were installed with investment from BP Chargemaster, which runs the largest public charging network in the country, operating over 400 rapid chargers and a total of more than 7,000 charging points available for electric vehicle drivers nationwide.
Andrew Turner, Lincolnshire Co-op’s head of group services, said: “We’re delighted to put the wheels in motion together with BP Chargemaster to introduce electric vehicle charging points as a new valued service to these outlets, to help make lives better in our local communities. If successful, further charging points at more of our sites will follow.
“Whether our members and customers choose to drive electric cars or look after our local environment in other ways, from donating clothes via the Salvation Army clothing banks at many of our outlets to bringing a reusable bag when they shop, together it all makes a difference.”
David Newton, CEO of BP Chargemaster, said: “We are very proud to be working with Lincolnshire Co-op, which shares our goal of reducing emissions by helping customers to adopt the cleanest vehicles. These new 50kW rapid chargers will make driving an EV in and across Lincolnshire even easier, particularly given the relatively low number of rapid chargers in the region today.”
The chargers can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis using a contactless bankcard or the Polar Instant smartphone app, as well as being accessible to all Polar Plus members with a subscription.
