New Lidl offer saves EV drivers £529 a year when charging their car

New Lidl offer saves EV drivers £529 a year when charging their car Customers can access the lower tariff directly through Lidl Plus A new offer announced by Lidl today, Tuesday, September 8, may interest millions of people across the UK who drive electric vehicles. The new offer means motorists could save over £500 a year when charging their car. Lidl GB has reduced its rapid Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) tariffs, lowering its charging rate from 62p/kWh to 59p/kWh for Lidl Plus members. Drivers using the Lidl Plus tariff could save approximately £4 per session, adding up to an annual saving of £529. Lidl was the first UK supermarket to integrate EV charging payments directly into its own rewards app. The discounter's network has powered 49.1 million miles of electric driving in the past year alone. Expanding its EV infrastructure further, Lidl is investing £10 million this financial year in its network, including installing around 100 new rapid chargers at existing stores. This is in addition to the discounter’s £25 million investment in its EVC network since 2017, with a third of Lidl GB stores currently offering rapid EV charging. Plus, as part of its store expansion drive this year, Lidl says it is also committing to installing rapid chargers in the majority of its newly built stores. It says it hopes this will bring "high-speed charging directly to local communities". Richard Taylor, Chief Real Estate Officer at Lidl GB, said: "For over 30 years, we’ve focused on giving customers the best possible value on their groceries, and our EV network is an extension of that promise. By expanding our rapid chargers, we’re making it as simple and affordable as possible for shoppers to top up while they shop - helping EV drivers save money and supporting more sustainable everyday habits." The price cuts come as the demand for reliable public charging continues to surge. According to a recent report from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of fully electric cars on UK roads has increased three-fold since the end of 2022, reaching over 2.1 million vehicles. Despite this growth, a Department for Transport report revealed that almost half of EV drivers (47%) feel there are not enough public chargepoints to meet demand. And nearly a quarter (24%) are dissatisfied with local availability. Unlike some other supermarkets that rely on third-party operators, Lidl owns its charge points outright. Lidl says this business model allows the retailer to take a customer-centric approach, which enabled Lidl to become the very first supermarket in Britain to integrate EV payments directly into its own loyalty app - "power up with Lidl Plus". In the past year alone, EV charging at Lidl GB stores has successfully powered 49.1 million miles of electric driving. Lidl says that’s enough to travel to the moon and back 100 times, securing a net carbon saving of approximately 10,600 metric tonnes of CO2. The £529 saving is based on a market average of 80p/kWh. Customers using the Lidl Plus tariff can save approximately £4.41 per charging session. The tariff for rapid EVC at Lidl will otherwise be charged a rate of 74 p/kWh.