Morrisons is installing the nation’s largest network of rapid electric charging points for electric vehicles, allowing customers to charge the majority of cars from flat to full battery in under 45 minutes.
This week Morrisons unveils its first 50 GeniePoint rapid charging points at its stores nationwide, with a further 50 planned by 2020.
The rapid chargers will charge an electric car six times quicker than standard charging points. It enables customers to fill their car up even during a short shopping trip, which means that a 20-30 minute charge will give drivers up to 100 miles of travel range.
To help customers, the GeniePoint charging points have been located around the perimeter of the car parks to ensure they are available to those who need them and not obstructed by other customers.
Andrew Ball, Fuel & Services Manager of Morrisons said: “Customers are beginning to take part in the biggest revolution in car design since the internal combustion engine was first developed. We need to follow them and give them the opportunity to charge while they shop.”
The majority of the electricity will come from ENGIE. which buys from zero-carbon energy sources like hydroelectricity, biomass, bio-gas, wind and solar.
Alex Bamberg, managing director, ENGIE EV (Electric Vehicle) Solutions, the owner of the GeniePoint Network, said. “Providing convenient, fast charging facilities is essential in ensuring drivers have the confidence to switch to electric vehicles and reduce traffic pollution. Morrisons supermarkets are ideally situated in communities as drivers go about their day to day activities, and will make an important contribution as we build the most reliable rapid charging network nationwide.”
Customers can register to use the GeniePoint chargers via the web app www.geniepoint.co.uk, which is free to join. There is no monthly fee and drivers only pay for the electricity they use which costs 30p per kW hour.
Recent figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show sales of Battery Electric Vehicles are up more than four times on the same period for 2018. Demand for reliable, rapid electric vehicle charging facilities is growing and drivers want to see chargers situated at convenient locations where their vehicles can be charged whilst they carry on with their day-to-day activities.
