In recent years, discounters have attracted drivers of electric vehicles to their stores with free charging options. The basic idea was to offer these customers a lucrative way to charge their electric car while they were shopping. This should increase the reputation of the discounters in the competition. The idea was watered down with the increasing number of newly registered e-cars and the costs for the charging stations slowly got out of hand. After Aldi, Lidl and Kaufland are now ending the free charging offers in September.
Introduction of new tariffs from September 12, 2022
To ensure that the charging stations do not have to be dismantled again, these two providers will be introducing chargeable tariffs from September 12th. 43 cents per kilowatt hour are due at the AC charging points with a charging capacity of up to 29 kilowatts, and 149 cents per kilowatt hour at the DC charging points with a charging capacity of up to 48 kilowatts kilowatt hour. In addition, there are charging stations with more than 150 kilowatts of charging power at some locations, 65 cents are required. With the new tariffs, these charging stations should obviously be operated to cover costs.
If you look at the sharply increasing number of new registrations of e-cars, this calculation by the providers can work out. According to statistics, Lidl would have charged four cars a day at a charging station in 2020, and at Kaufland it should have been nine cars. The number of charges has already doubled in the last year. At the moment, Lidl is supposed to have 15 e-vehicles and Kaufland 20 e-vehicles at the charging stations per charging point.
Charging infrastructure is being further expanded at Lidl and Kaufland
The sharp rise in electricity costs and the free-rider effects of customers are reasons for the introduction of these tariffs. At the same time, according to the Schwarz Group, the charging infrastructure will be further expanded. From March 2023, Lidl wants to have equipped almost a third of its more than 3.200 branches with charging options for electric vehicles. And from March 2023, the full-range retailer Kaufland will have charging options for electric vehicles in around a third of its more than 700 branches nationwide.
Addendum
Source: Press releases from the Schwarz Group (parent company of Lidl and Kaufland)
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