The manufacturer said of the 32 POD points included in the network, IKEA Wembley’s unit was used for over 18 hours during August. In total, the 32 point network recored 157 hours of charging, an average of just under five hours each.

POD Point CEO Erik Fairbairn said: ‘We are seeing increasing numbers of retailers explore the benefits of installing EV charge points in their car parks because it encourages customers to spend longer in store, which in turn will help increase their spend.

‘Many will be aware of the debate raised by Top Gear recently with regards to the length of time it takes to charge an electric vehicle. Whilst our new twin charge points are able to provide a full charge in 3 hours, what we have found is that most drivers simply ‘graze’ when it comes to public charging, topping up with some charge whilst they shop.

‘Our new charge points can provide 30 miles of additional driving in just an hour, making it the perfect solution for retailers who want to entice customers to shop for longer.’

POD Point’s network covers 260 public locations across the UK, including the 32 installed as part of the Source London scheme. Some 75% of its London-based charging points are located at airports and public car parks, with retail car parks making up 4% of the network.