Foodstuffs and ChargeNet, New Zealand's only nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network, have announced plans to build at least 80 new EV-charging sites at Foodstuffs supermarkets across the country over the next four years.
ChargeNet began working with Foodstuffs in 2015, installing charging sites at PAK’nSAVE and New World stores. These stores currently offer customers access to 128 ChargeNet charging points around the country. To date, the charging points have provided more than 7,731 MWh of energy to customers.
Foodstuffs NZ’s Head of Environmental Social Governance, Sandy Botterill, said the partnership reinforced its commitment to providing customers with accessible and convenient charging options.
“Our customers are telling us they like the convenience of being able to charge their electric vehicles while doing their shopping, ticking two items off the to-do list in a single trip," said Botterill.
“By partnering with ChargeNet to open at least 80 new charging sites at our stores around the country, we’re also supporting our broader goals around being sustainability leaders through helping reduce carbon emissions and supporting the transition to low emissions transportation options for our customers.”
ChargeNet CEO Danusia Wypych added that the formal partnership with Foodstuffs NZ will speed up the installation of new chargers and increase the number of high-powered charge points available nationally. All new sites will be powered by Ecotricity’s 100 percent renewable, Toitū climate-positive certified wind, hydro, and solar electricity.
“The partnership demonstrates our and Foodstuffs’ commitment to the absolute best customer experience and to building even greater convenience and accessibility for all EV drivers. We know that supermarket charging is the top preference for our customers. On top of that, 83 percent of our customers plan for their journey—they know exactly which EV charging stations they’ll use,” said Wypych.
“Building more chargers builds confidence in the network for everyday EV drivers, and being able to charge while doing an everyday errand helps seamlessly integrate EV-charging into their daily lives. By providing more ChargeNet chargers and even more convenient access, we’re helping to get more Kiwi drivers into EVs by building their trust that the EV-charging network can support them.”
Customers can get up to 80 percent charge in the half-hour or so it takes them to complete their shopping and provide the “e-forecourt” of the future, where customers stop in to do their weekly shopping and tick off their vehicle charge simultaneously.
