Waitrose has deployed its first EV charge points for employees at its main distribution centre in Bracknell, helping to encourage EV take-up.

Waitrose’s new charge points at its Bracknell depot are available for staff to use exclusively

A total of 14 x 22kW rapid charge points have been installed at the retailer’s 114,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution depot, all available for staff – known as ‘partners’ – to use exclusively, encouraging them to go electric.

The charge points have been installed by Flowbird, which collaborated with electric charge point manufacturer Easee to design, install and commission the charge points.

Waitrose, part of the John Lewis Partnership (JLP), holds a 20-year relationship with Flowbird and features the company’s parking technology across 20 stores UK-wide.

The new charge points are part of a wider initiative to reduce the carbon footprint at the Bracknell depot. Installations at further sites are expected.

JLP is working to achieve a fleet that is free of fossil fuels by 2030. It’s pledged to electrify its light commercial vehicle and business car fleet to facilitate zero carbon operations by 2035.

Jackie Hewson, alternative fuel implementation manager at Waitrose, said: “We want to make it as easy as possible for our partners to go electric. We appreciate that not everyone has a charger at home, and so believe that providing workplace charging is key to supporting the EV transition and establishing more sustainable depot operations. Working with Flowbird has made things easy since they have both the charging and payment infrastructure to make it work.”

Danny Hassett, managing director at Flowbird UK, commented: “This has been a natural progression for a company with a background in installing infrastructure in car parks, in addition to all the physical and digital payments and data capability that goes with it. Warehouse and logistics hubs are prime locations for EV charge point investments, and this installation will see partners at Bracknell benefit from accessible and affordable charging for years to come.”