Sainsbury’s Smart Charge network now has 650 charge points
Sainsbury’s Smart Charge network has hit a significant milestone, with its charging infrastructure powering more than 60 million miles of electric driving in just 16 months. According to the retailer, this translates to a saving of 10.71 million kg of CO₂ compared to equivalent petrol or diesel mileage, underlining the role of accessible ultra-rapid charging in decarbonising UK road transport.
The supermarket chain has invested £25 million into the Smart Charge rollout to date, deploying over 650 ultra-rapid charging bays across more than 75 stores nationwide. The chargers, provided by Kempower, operate at 150kW, allowing most EVs to regain up to 80% charge in under 30 minutes. Moreover, they are powered by 100% renewable electricity.
Sainsbury’s launched its charging network in the UK in January 2024. At the time, the goal was to have 750 charging bays by the end of that year. Each charging station for the Smart Charge network features two connectors, primarily CCS, and ‘most of them’ also offer CHAdeMo, Sainsbury’s wrote at the time of the launch. The chargers offer one of the lowest tap-and-go pricing models in the UK at 72p per kWh and require no subscription or mobile app.
Patrick Dunne, Chief Property and Procurement Officer and MD of Smart Charge, said: “Reaching 60 million fossil-free miles in just over a year shows what’s possible with investment and a relentless focus on our customers. We set out to remove the barriers to EV adoption by making charging fast, reliable and easy – and that’s exactly what Smart Charge delivers, at convenient locations where lots of EV drivers already shop.”
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood praised the initiative: “It’s amazing that Sainsbury’s has powered 60 million miles worth of zero-emission journeys in just over a year, thanks to its £25m investment to install hundreds of chargers at its stores – helping drivers charge easily and conveniently while doing their shopping.”
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