Lidl has opened four electric vehicle fast-charging stations at its stores in France, with two more set to follow this year. The charging stations, which were developed with the help of ABB and DBT, are located at supermarkets in Villefranche-sur-SaĂŽne, Landivisiau, Pennes-Mirabeau, and Tourcoing.
Each station features several DC charge points with various power levels, as well as AC chargers. There are four AC charging points with 22 kW of power, four DC charge points with up to 90 kW of power, and five high-power connections with 180 to 360 kW of power at each location.
The stations also feature the ABB Terra 360 column. The charging stations are open 24/7 and are equipped with photovoltaic modules on their roofs. Drivers can pay for charging using RFID cards and apps from charging network operators or through an online ad-hoc payment via a QR code displayed on the terminal. The cost for AC charging is 25 cents per kWh, while DC charging costs 40 cents per kWh.
Lidl has installed approximately 2,300 charging points at over 500 of its supermarkets, with 1,590 of those located in France. The company plans to open two more fast-charging stations in France before the end of 2023.
In May 2022, the Schwarz Group, which owns Lidl, announced its intention to add around 6,200 new charging points across Europe. In Germany, approximately one-third of the company’s 3,200 stores will have charging options by March 2023. However, these charging points will be individual chargers, rather than the larger fast-charging stations that have been installed in France.
