Anglo-Dutch oil major Shell is to expand its network of charging points for electric vehicles (EVs) by installing as many as 800 points in the car parks of up to a hundred of the retailer Waitrose’s stores.
Supporting EVs is part of Shell’s strategy for transitioning to a net-zero business by 2050, and it has grease and fluid ranges that have been specially designed for EVs. The deal with Waitrose is part of its “destination charging” approach, where customers charge their vehicles while undertaking a different activity, such as doing their shopping in this case.
Bernadette Williamson, the Retail General Manager at Shell UK, said about the announcement:
“This is great news for EV drivers across the UK, knowing they can easily, quickly and reliably charge up at Shell charge points while shopping at Waitrose. We want to make EV charging as hassle-free as possible and support our customers wherever they want to charge.”
As part of its partnership, Shell will also sell Waitrose products in its forecourt shops, with the number of participating stores set to increase to 125 in the coming years. Some 80 Shell Select stores will also double as click-and-collect points for John Lewis goods this summer.
James Bailey, an Executive Director at Waitrose, said the partnership was important for offering greater convenience for its customers. The company has also forged partnerships with retail stores like the Co-Op and Booths, and it has plans to further develop its arrangement with Deliveroo.