Lidl has announced it is investing £10 million this financial year in its network of Electrical Vehicle Charging (EVC) stations, installing around 100 new rapid chargers at existing stores.

The discounter has invested around £25 million into its EVC network since 2017, with a third of Lidl stores in the UK currently offering rapid EV charging.

As part of its store expansion drive this year, Lidl said it is also committing to installing rapid chargers in most of its newly built stores, bringing high-speed charging directly to local communities.

The supermarket has also announced it will reduce its EVC tariffs, dropping the charging rate from 62p/kWh to 59p/kWh for members of its Lidl Plus loyalty scheme.

Lidl estimates drivers using the Lidl Plus tariff could save approximately £4 per session, adding up to an annual saving of £529.

Lidl said demand for reliable public charging continues to surge. The company quoted a recent report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) which showed the number of fully electric cars on UK roads has increased three-fold since the end of 2022, reaching over 2.1 million vehicles.

Despite this growth, Lidl said a Department for Transport report revealed that almost half of EV drivers feel there are not enough public charge points to meet demand, and nearly a quarter are dissatisfied with local availability.

Unlike most supermarkets that rely on third-party operators, Lidl said it owns its charge points outright, which allows it to integrate EV payments directly into its loyalty app.

In the past year alone, Lidl said its charging points have powered 49.1 million miles of electric driving, which is equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 100 times. Lidl added that its charging points have produced a net carbon saving of around 10.600 metric tons of CO2.

Richard Taylor, chief real estate officer at Lidl GB, said: “For over 30 years, we’ve focused on giving customers the best possible value on their groceries, and our EV network is an extension of that promise.

"By expanding our rapid chargers, we’re making it as simple and affordable as possible for shoppers to top up while they shop - helping EV drivers save money and supporting more sustainable everyday habits.”

Last week, Lidl announced that it had opened its 13,000th store in Raunheim near Frankfurt. The company is active in 32 countries and has over 3,250 stores in Germany alone.

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