Norwegian grocery store ASKO invests in charging infrastructure
Norwegian food wholesaler ASKO has signed a framework agreement with Finnish charging hardware manufacturer Kempower to build fast charging infrastructure for electric trucks at 13 logistics depots in Norway. In the future, charging points at their shops could also follow.
Through the framework agreement between Kempower and ASKO, initially more than 80 fast charging points from the Finnish manufacturer will be built at nine of the grocer’s locations by the end of the year, according to a Kempower statement. These nine depots are to cover the entire length of Norway, from Lillesand in the south to Tromsø in the north. It is not mentioned by when the four other depots are to follow – but 2026 is likely to be the target.
The background is that ASKO wants to completely electrify its fleet of around 700 trucks by 2026. The new framework agreement gives ASKO access to Kempower’s full charging infrastructure offering, consisting of satellite charging systems, stand-alone charging stations and the cloud-based Kempower ChargEye charging management software for depots. ASKO can select the appropriate products for each location, the Finnish company wrote.
A test phase preceded the framework agreement, which the two companies signed after ASKO successfully tested the Kempower charging system at one of its depots in 2022. So far, Kempower has delivered chargers to two locations and seven more will be installed this year.
ASKO is part of NorgesGruppen, a wholesale chain that also operates retail shops under various brands. These shops are part of a possible expansion of the partnership, according to Kempower. There is also the possibility of installing chargers at NorgesGruppen’s approximately 1,800 Norwegian grocery shops. It is not known when or under what conditions the partnership will be extended. as Kempower only mentions that the possibility exists.
“At ASKO, we recognize that new technologies will improve our business in terms of performance and sustainability,” says Lars Erik Olsen, technical manager at ASKO Norge AS. “The benefits of Kempower’s technology are vast.”
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