Aldi has confirmed a major change to its car parks across more than 250 UK stores, transferring 1,200 electric vehicle charging points to Drax. The budget supermarket, named the cheapest in April ahead of Lidl, now offers rapid charging at 62p per kWh and standard charging at 40p per kWh.
New Charging Facilities
The service provides a quick and convenient way for customers to top up their EVs during a shop. Stores with new chargers include Aldi's Diss branch in Norfolk, along with locations in Eastbourne, Durham and Yate near Bristol. Aldi will also install chargers at around 20 new stores each year as part of expansion plans, offering a mix of fast and rapid chargers.
Pricing and Payment
Charging is competitively priced at 40p per kWh for fast charging and 62p per kWh for rapid charging. Shoppers can check availability, view costs and pay through the Charge Assist app or by contactless card with no subscription required.
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. By expanding EV charging at more of our stores, we're helping to make that easier - and offering great-value charging while they shop."
Benefits of Supermarket Charging
Energy giant Octopus notes that public charging infrastructure is growing rapidly, with supermarkets becoming convenient hubs for EV drivers. The logic is simple: you're already stopping to pick up dinner, so why not top up your battery? Benefits include convenience, safety and easy access in high-traffic areas. However, not every supermarket has ultra-rapid chargers, some sites enforce time limits, and public charging often costs more than home charging.
Understanding charger types is essential. Slow chargers (around 7 kW) are ideal for longer shops. Fast chargers (up to 22 kW) provide a quicker top-up. Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50 kW+) can replenish a battery in 20-40 minutes, perfect for shorter trips or longer journeys.
