REWE Group has announced strategic partnerships with EnBW and Shell to build one of Germany's largest and modern fast-charging station networks.
By the end of 2024, at least 400 select REWE and Penny outlets and other rental properties will see the addition of 2,000 fast-charging points.
REWE Group also aims to set up 4,000 additional charging points on existing rental properties and new buildings.
As a result, the network is expected to add over 6,000 charging points to its network by the end of 2024.
Currently, 130 of the retailer's stores in Germany have a charging infrastructure.
'Fast-Charging Stations'
Telerik Schischmanow, executive vice-president of REWE Group, said, "Thanks to our two strong partners Shell and EnBW, we have state-of-the-art fast-charging stations with which our customers can conveniently charge their electric vehicles while shopping.
"I am convinced that this is exactly the right way to further accelerate the spread of electric vehicles. In surveys in 2020, around 70 percent of those questioned saw the lack of charging stations as a significant reason against purchasing an electric car."
At present, there are around 26,000 charging stations for electric cars in Germany, with about 10% provided by retailers.
According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, there were around 1.1 million electric cars (electric, plug-in hybrids) in Germany at the end of October 2021.
Depending on the infrastructure and e-vehicle, the charging points can power vehicles for a range of 100 kilometres in five minutes.
'The Partner Of Choice'
Linda van Schaik, head of the Shell petrol station business in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said, "The demands of customers with electric vehicles will be different. One person has a charging facility in his garage, the next one charges at work, at the street lamp, in a parking lot, or at an ultra-fast charging station at our petrol station.
"We want to be the partner of choice and thereby make it easier for customers to switch to a battery-electric vehicle because they can charge whenever and wherever they want."
Timo Sillober, chief sales and operations officer at EnBW, added, "We want to simply integrate electromobility into our customers' everyday lives.
"Nowhere is that better than when I go shopping: I drive to the supermarket parking lot, connect my car to the fast charger. After a short shopping trip of 20 to 30 minutes, I get back to my charged vehicle with enough charge for the next one to two weeks."
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Dayeeta Das. For more Retail news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
