Aldi has confirmed a major change to its car parks at more than 250 UK stores, introducing new pricing for electric vehicle (EV) charging. The supermarket, recently named the cheapest in the UK, has partnered with Drax to upgrade 1,200 charging points, offering rapid charging at 62p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and regular fast charging at 40p per kWh.
New Charging Network
Stores benefiting from the new facilities include Aldi's Diss store in Norfolk, alongside locations in Eastbourne, Durham, and Yate near Bristol. Customers can access the chargers using the Charge Assist app or contactless card payment, with no subscription required.
Expansion Plans
Aldi will also install chargers at around 20 new stores each year, offering a mix of fast and rapid chargers. Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “We’re committed to making sustainable choices more accessible for our customers, and we know many are looking for affordable, reliable and convenient ways to charge their cars.”
Industry Context
Energy giant Octopus notes that public charging infrastructure is growing rapidly, with supermarkets becoming convenient hubs for EV drivers. Slow chargers (around 7 kW) suit longer shopping trips, fast chargers (up to 22 kW) provide quicker top-ups, and rapid chargers (50 kW+) can replenish batteries in 20-40 minutes.
