Smart Charge: Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging service arrives in Nine Elms

Smart Charge: Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging service arrives in Nine Elms

26 July 2024

  • 8 ultra-rapid charging bays are now available at Sainsbury’s Nine Elms, allowing vehicles to charge in as little as 30 minutes
  • Florence Eshalomi MP joined colleagues to celebrate the launch of Sainsbury’s newest Smart Charge Hub
  • Smart Charge now has 445 bays available at 54 Sainsbury’s locations throughout the UK
  • Smart Charge is the first electric charging service to offer customers loyalty benefits from the UK’s biggest multi-partner loyalty programme – Nectar

Sainsbury’s has brought an exciting new service to its first location in Wandsworth – a brand-new ultra-rapid Electric Vehicle (EV) charging hub at its Nine Elms Superstore. MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green Florence Eshalomi joined Sainsbury’s colleagues at the store to see the new Smart Charge Hub and celebrate its launch.

Offering EV drivers speed, reliability and competitive prices with rewards, the arrival of the new Smart Charge hub represents a major boost to public EV charging options in the area.

Whether EV users live locally or are driving past the store, which is conveniently located on Wandsworth Road, they can now take advantage of 8 new ultra-rapid 150kW Smart Charge bays at Sainsbury’s Nine Elms, collecting Nectar points while they charge. They will provide a sustainable power source for all EV drivers in the area – not just those shopping in-store

The new Nine Elms hub brings the total number of Smart Charge locations across the UK to 54, and all of them have launched in less than a year.

‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging currently available on the market and the new service will allow customers to charge EVs in as little as 30 minutes – providing enough power to travel up to 200 miles – rather than waiting longer with a slower alternative.

Instantly identifiable as part of Sainsbury’s Smart Charge brand, the new charging hub is conveniently located in Sainsbury’s Nine Elms car park, which can be accessed via the dedicated entrance on Wandsworth Road. The hub has been designed to be easily accessible for disabled customers and those with young children, thanks to the additional space provided around and between bays.

Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green, said: “It was brilliant to join the Sainsbury’s Smart Charge team to open their new Nine Elms site today and to speak to some of the fantastic colleagues in store. More and more people are driving electric vehicles, and it is so important we have the right infrastructure in place to support this transition.”

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s Director of Property, Procurement & EV Ventures, said: “We were delighted to welcome Florence Eshalomi to the launch of our new Nine Elms Smart Charge hub. We hope EV drivers will enjoy the added convenience and choice the new service provides, giving them confidence that they can top up or do a full charge at our first Wandsworth location.

“We know that demand for speedy, reliable and sustainable EV charging facilities in the UK continues to grow – that’s why Sainsbury’s is rolling out Smart Charge, our new best-in-class ultra-rapid charging service, at supermarkets up and down the country.”

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 445 ultra-rapid charging bays at 54 Sainsbury’s locations, with new charging hub being added to the Smart Charge network regularly. Smart Charge is also the first EV charging provider to offer customers loyalty benefits from a UK leading loyalty programme, Nectar, allowing them to collect points to spend on their favourite brands.

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. More information is available at www.smartcharge.co.uk.