Tesco Ireland, in partnership with ESB, has announced the rollout of dual outlet electric vehicle (EV) chargers which will be installed at 52 of its store carparks spanning 18 counties nationwide.
Under this partnership ESB will supply, install and operate the charge points which will commence in early 2020 with completion expected by the Autumn.
Carbon Emissions Reduction
Since 2017, Tesco Ireland has sourced all its electricity needs from renewable sources.
This move will assist the drive to reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions and will complement the existing ESB network of EV charge points across the country.
“With all our electricity already coming from renewable sources across our network we want to support our customers with convenience-based charging," said Kari Daniels, CEO, Tesco Ireland.
Zero-Carbon Retailer
The 22kW dual chargers ESB can provide charging capacity to two vehicles simultaneously and will be capable of providing up to 145km of driving range in 60 minutes, the retailer explained.
"Partnering with ESB installing these charging sites nationwide will help the Government’s Climate Action Plan and our aim as a business to become a zero-carbon retailer by 2050,” added Daniels.
According to Tesco 52 chargers will be included on ESB’s nationwide charge point map to help customers find their closest charging point and allow customers to start and stop transactions using the ESB app.
"Since 2010, we have rolled out a nationwide public EV charging network, with plans to launch our first high-powered charging hubs in 2020, with support from the Irish Government’s Climate Action Fund,"
"The addition of these chargers at Tesco stores ensures more customers will have a reliable, accessible network for the benefit of all users.”
There are currently over 15,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads, the retailer highlighted, with 4,755 of these registered to date in 2019.
Climate Action Fund
The Climate Action Fund is one of four funds established under the National Development Plan 2018-2027 as part of Project Ireland 2040, according to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
"The fund will support initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland's climate and energy targets in a cost effective manner,' the department said.
In relation to the fund 'which will have an allocation of at least €500 million over the period to 2027', it stated, 'offers the potential for innovative interventions which, in the absence of support from the fund, would not otherwise be developed.'
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
