Thursday, 15 May 2025 – Smart Charge, Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging network, has reached a major milestone by saving the equivalent of 60 million fossil fuel miles on UK roads, resulting in a reduction of 10.71 million kg of CO2 emissions compared to non-electric vehicles.
By building the infrastructure to support the switch to cleaner transport, Smart Charge is making it easier for UK motorists to adopt electric vehicles. The service is designed to improve access to on-the-go charging and plays a key role in accelerating the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Sainsbury’s launched the Smart Charge brand in January 2024 and the rapid success of its uptake by EV drivers reflects the scale and pace of Smart Charge’s rollout, with more than 650 ultra-rapid charging bays now live across over 75 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.
Smart Charge has supplied enough renewable energy through its ultra-rapid charging stations to power electric vehicles for over 60 million miles, journeys that would have otherwise needed petrol or diesel. The distance is enough to drive from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and back over 35,000 times.
Patrick Dunne, Chief Property and Procurement Officer, MD of Smart Charge, said: “Reaching 60 million fossil free miles in just over a year shows what’s possible with investment and a relentless focus on our customers. We set out to remove the barriers to EV adoption by making charging fast, reliable and easy – and that’s exactly what Smart Charge delivers, at convenient locations where lots of EV drivers already shop.
“Investing in our EV network is a key part of our Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy, and we’re just getting started. We’re excited to keep building on its initial success and take Smart Charge even further in the months and years ahead.”
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “It’s amazing that Sainsbury’s has powered 60 million miles worth of zero emission journeys in just over a year, thanks to its investment to install hundreds of chargers at its stores – helping drivers charge easily and conveniently while doing their shopping.
“We’re investing £2.3 billion to help drivers switch to electric vehicles while putting money in the pockets of hardworking people by protecting jobs, backing British carmakers and driving growth as part of the Plan for Change.
Using Smart Charge, customers can recharge their EVs in as little as 30 minutes with ultra-rapid 150kW chargers while they shop, without the need for subscriptions or apps. All the chargers are powered by the same 100% renewable energy that powers Sainsbury’s wider estate and they come with access to 24/7 driver support.
At 72p per kWh, Smart Charge also has one of the lowest tap-and-go ultra-rapid charging rates available. Smart Charge customers also benefit from Nectar rewards – earning one point for every £1 spent on charging. Since the introduction of Nectar to Smart Charge, more than 10 million points have been awarded in under a year.
The journey towards a cleaner, smarter and more convenient future is well underway and Smart Charge is just one of the ways Sainsbury’s is delivering for customers today, while building a better tomorrow. The service is intended to help advance the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK, supporting the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Sainsbury’s operates on an average of 3 miles per kWh of energy dispensed, which is a conservative estimate
- The figures provided refer to tailpipe emissions only and do not account for any emissions related to manufacturing or other consumption
- Conversion factor: 1 mile = 1.6093 km. Therefore, with an average of 111g/km, the equivalent emissions would be approximately 178.63g/mile
- New car average emissions in model year 2022 per Statista analysis: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1233409/carbon-footprint-of-cars-by-type-uk/
- The driving distance from Land’s End to John o’Groats, covering the full length of mainland Britain, is approximately 837 miles one way. For a round trip, this totals 1,674 miles. Given a total mileage of 60,000,000 miles, this equates to around 35,842 round trips
About Smart Charge
Smart Charge is Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging service, offering customers speed, reliability, and competitive prices with rewards. Launched at the beginning of 2024, Smart Charge now has 645 bays available at 78 Sainsbury’s locations throughout the UK. It is the first electric charging service to offer customers loyalty benefits from the UK’s biggest multi-partner loyalty programme, Nectar. Smart Charge is fully owned and managed end-to-end by Sainsbury’s, providing 100% sustainable power for all types of EVs and for all drivers. The service aims to advance the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK, supporting the nation’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
There are currently four generally recognised speeds of EV charging available in the UK, classified by the level of power or “flow” of electricity that the chargers can provide, in kilowatts (kW):
- Slow – 3-6kW
- Fast – 7-22kW
- Rapid – 25-99kW
- Ultra-Rapid – 100kW+
More information is available at https://smartcharge.co.uk/.