Lidl was one of the first companies in Hungary to start promoting electric cars: in 2016, it already installed parking lots in some of its Budapest stores with free-to-use lightning charging stations. The supermarket chain did all this long before the government required companies selling everyday consumer goods to supply their stores with a limited number of electric car charging stations from 2019 onwards.
Lidl’s electronic filling stations have since become available at a rate higher than required by law:
The service already has electric car parks in 100 stores with a total of 183 filling stations and 417 charging points, allowing them to quickly and easily charge their cars while shopping.
While the electric charging network undoubtedly supports important sustainability goals, last but not least, it also helps save money. By using free charging poles, motorists can save hundreds of thousands of forints annually compared to charging their cars at non-free stations. And while the vast majority of electronic shipper companies have used the terminals that charge nationally, Lidl still has no plans to make their units payable.
Photo: Lidl Hungary
Moreover, the charging grid offers more power consumption than in previous years, as the chain started installing DC chargers instead of AC from 2021 onwards. With this said, electric car batteries can consume not just 2 kWh, but up to 8-10 kWh of energy during a half hour of shopping.
Renewable help for easier and more convenient charging
The fuel stations of the national network can be used during the opening hours of the stores. They offer 10 minutes of free charging using controls for the fill columns and 30 minutes with the Lidl eCharge app. Using the smartphone app, you can start and stop the charging process after a quick registration.
An interactive map is also available for users to navigate to all Lidl electronic charging stations in the capital and all 19 counties. For electronic chargers, the appal can monitor real-time standby time, occupancy, number and types of connectors, and charging column performance. The app allows you to track charging time, speed, and energy consumed.
Don’t stop: can be found everywhere soon
Lidl Hungary is constantly working to expand its network so that the service will be available in all its stores as quickly as possible. The discount chain is committed to making the most of eco-friendly transportation through its electric charging network. As part of this, we also provide green electricity from renewable energy sources, Judith Tozer, Head of Corporate Communications at Lidl Hungary, told our newspaper.
This is also in line with the commitment of the Schwarz Group which owns Lidl. The group is actively promoting sustainable mobility through the ambitious expansion of its charging network, with the goal of installing around 6,200 new charging points for electric vehicles in its retail stores across Europe by the end of the 2022 marketing year, increasing the number of charging points in vehicle charging. The electrical network reaches nearly 13,000.
The article was implemented within the framework of a content collaboration between Index and Lidl Hungary.
