Shell to install up to 800 electrical vehicle charging points at Waitrose stores in the UK by 2025 as it moves into ‘destination charging’.

The Shell charge points will be deployed in around 100 Waitrose locations across the UK. Each site will get six 22kW fast chargers and two 50kW rapid charging points

The charge points will be deployed in around 100 Waitrose locations across the UK. Each site will get six 22kW fast chargers and two 50kW rapid charging points, enabling customers to charge their vehicles while they shop.

The first site will go live in 2022 and represents Shell Recharge’s first foray into ‘destination charging’, whereby customers charge their vehicle while it is parked at a location they are primarily visiting for another activity such as shopping.

Shell’s ambition is to grow its Shell Recharge-branded network to 5,000 charge points on forecourts and other locations by 2025 – and destination charging will play a major role in this.

Bernadette Williamson, general manager Shell UK Retail, said: “This is great news for EV drivers across the UK, knowing they can easily, quickly and reliably charge up at Shell charge points while shopping at Waitrose. We want to make EV charging as hassle-free as possible and support our customers wherever they want to charge.”

The new charge points are part of an expanded partnership between Shell and Waitrose that will also see the number of Shell forecourt shops selling Waitrose food and drink increase from 57 to 125 by 2025. Parent firm John Lewis will also make its Click & Collect service available in up to 80 additional Shell forecourts this summer – bringing the total number of locations where the service is available to more than 1,000.