The Issa brothers, known for their billionaire status, have turned off over a hundred electric car charging stations at Asda locations, disappointing customers who usually charge their cars while shopping.
Recent data from the RAC shows that Asda has significantly cut its electric vehicle charger count at its supermarkets. The number has dropped by over two-thirds, now standing at only 46 chargers, compared to 165 at the beginning of 2023.
This decrease in charging points is linked to Asda’s decision to conclude its partnership with the EV charging firm BP Pulse. Currently, Asda’s operational EV chargers are present in just 2% of its properties, equating to 22 stores.
Contrasting with this move, Asda stands alone as the only supermarket chain to reduce its available charging stations, while others like Tesco and Morrisons are notably expanding their investment in this area. Asda has been grappling with significant debt challenges since its acquisition by Mohsin and Zuber Issa, along with their private equity partner TDR Capital in 2021.
The Issa brothers, who also own the EG Group petrol station network, finalized an agreement last year with Tesla to install chargers at their petrol station locations throughout the UK and Europe.
Last year, Asda agreed to purchase the UK forecourts of EG Group, though it’s believed that the Tesla charger arrangement won’t extend to Asda’s parking areas.
Currently, the supermarket is exploring alternatives to replace the EV chargers it has lost.
In contrast to Asda’s approach, most supermarkets are rapidly expanding their EV charging facilities in their car parks, aiming to attract more customers.
Sainsbury’s CEO, Simon Roberts, announced last month a £70 million investment to introduce charging points at 70 additional supermarkets, building on the success at 27 locations. He highlighted the convenience of customers being able to charge their cars while shopping, with the ability to monitor the charging process via their phones.
Tesco expanded its network of chargers by 61% to a total of 1,305 last year, as per Zapmap data reported by RAC. Meanwhile, Morrisons more than doubled its chargers, reaching 413.
In total, the supermarket sector saw the installation of 1,195 new charging devices last year, many of which offer faster charging options.
Simon Williams, the RAC’s EV spokesperson, remarked, “A key barrier deterring drivers from opting for electric vehicles is the perceived shortage of public charging points, with 60% of drivers citing this concern according to our findings.
“It’s a positive sign to see supermarkets expanding their EV charging infrastructure, addressing these concerns by increasing the number of chargers on a larger scale across their properties.”
The reduction in EV chargers at Asda might heighten worries about the supermarket’s ability to regain customers. Recent data from Kantar indicated that Asda is trailing behind its major competitors in terms of sales growth.
