ALDI Ireland is doubling the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging points at its stores over the next 12 months as part of a drive towards a more sustainable future.

Over the next 12 months, 41 additional EV charging points are scheduled for installation in Wexford, Galway, Louth, Dublin, Meath, Kerry, Cork and Mayo. This will mean that a total of 79 charging points will be available across 19 ALDI stores.

Shoppers can already charge their electric vehicles at ALDI stores across Dublin, Cork, Meath, Wicklow, Kildare, Cavan, Mayo and Kerry. The chargers, which are powered by 100% green electricity, are currently free EV charging points, as are all ALDI stores nationwide.

“We want to help ALDI shoppers live more sustainable lives and are constantly looking at new, innovative ways to make it easier for them shop with ALDI,” said Niall O’Connor, ALDI Group Managing Director.

“By increasing our EV charging offering across our store network, our aim is to support customers in making environmentally friendly choices so that together we can work towards a greener future.”

ALDI’s initiative aims to support the Government’s National EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy, which prioritises the delivery of rapid charge points over the next five years to facilitate the Government’s target of having almost a million EVs on Irish roads by 2030.

The supermarket has invested heavily in improving its energy management systems and its entire store network is now powered by 100% wind-generated energy. ALDI has also achieved ISO 50001 accreditation in recognition of its efforts to improve energy efficiencies.

In September 2021, the RAC and Zap-Map found that – in the UK – nearly 1,000 new EV charge points had been installed at supermarkets over the preceding 21 months, up 85% from January 2020.