Lidl electric car charging to be paid for via reward app

Electric car drivers who charge their car at Lidl electric car charging points, while shopping with the supermarket giant, will soon be able to pay for charging their car through the budget brand’s Lidl Plus rewards app.

Customers who charge their car at one of the 370-plus Lidl charging points currently make payments for their charging sessions via the Pod Point app, but this will be transitioned over to the Lidl Plus rewards app during the summer, with payments being accepted via the Lidl Plus rewards app by the end of the year. Once the rollout has been completed, it will no longer be possible to make payments through the Pod Point app.

Since 2017, Lidl has invested over £15 million in its electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Lidl currently has over 370 charging points located in its car parks at stores across the country, and unlike other supermarkets, it has always owned its EV charge points. Over 300 of the 370 charging points are rapid chargers, allowing customers to get a more meaningful top-up while shopping.

Lidl’s chief development officer, Richard Taylor, commented on the initiative saying: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Lidl. Since we opened our first store 30 years ago, Lidl has contributed to a shift in the way that people shop for their groceries, and this is the latest example of how we’re doing just that, so that we can further enhance our customers’ shopping experience.”

Lidl isn’t the only supermarket chain looking to boost its sustainability credentials, either. Sainsbury's announced that it was launching its ‘Smart Charge’ brand back in January this year, with the aim of having 750 ultra-rapid charging bays installed in car parks of more than 100 of its stores within the next 12 months.

Lidl’s announcement comes on the back of the value chain being named as Grocer of the Year by industry experts, as well as data showing a market share high of 8.1 per cent.