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Charging Costs

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at a supermarket?

Complete guide to supermarket EV charging costs in the UK, covering Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Morrisons charging prices and how to use them.

8 min read
supermarket EV charging, Tesco EV charging cost, Asda charging

Supermarket chargers are convenient — but how much do they cost? Here's the complete breakdown.

Quick Summary

SupermarketPrice per kWhTypical Top-Up Cost
Tesco (Pod Point)Free - 40p£0 - £8
Asda (Genie Point)35-45p£7-9
Lidl (Pod Point)Free£0
Sainsbury's (various)40-50p£8-10
Aldi (various)Free - 40p£0-8
Morrisons (various)40-50p£8-10

Prices vary by location and can change — always check the charger or app.

Tesco Charging (Pod Point)

Pricing

Charger TypeCost
7kW (slow)Usually FREE
22kW (fast)Usually FREE
50kW (rapid)~40p/kWh

How It Works

StepAction
1Download Pod Point app
2Create account (free)
3Start charge via app or RFID card
4Shop while charging

What to Know

FactorDetails
Time limitUsually 1-2 hours
Availability600+ stores with chargers
Queue managementApp shows availability
Clubcard discountNo additional discount

Example Cost

ScenarioCost
Add 20 miles (7kW, 30 mins)FREE
Add 50 miles (50kW, 20 mins)~£4

Tesco offers some of the cheapest supermarket charging — the 7kW chargers are often free.

Lidl Charging (Pod Point)

Pricing

Charger TypeCost
7kWFREE
22kWFREE
50kW (where available)FREE

How It Works

StepAction
1Pod Point app optional
2Tap contactless to start
3Or use app/RFID
4Charge while shopping

What to Know

FactorDetails
Time limitWhile shopping (usually 1 hour)
AvailabilityGrowing network
EnforcementVaries by store
Rapid chargersRare at Lidl

Lidl remains one of the few places with genuinely free charging — though intended for customers.

Asda Charging

Pricing

NetworkCost
Genie Point (most stores)35-45p/kWh
BP Pulse (some stores)50-65p/kWh
InstaVolt (some stores)69-79p/kWh

How It Works

StepAction
1Download relevant app
2Tap card or use app
3Some accept contactless
4Pay on completion

What to Know

FactorDetails
Network variesCheck which charger your store has
Time limitsUsually no formal limit
ReliabilityVariable (check Zapmap ratings)

Example Cost

ScenarioCost
Add 50 miles (20 kWh)£7-9
Add 100 miles (40 kWh)£14-18

Sainsbury's Charging

Pricing

NetworkCost
Pod Point (some)40-50p/kWh
BP Pulse (some)55-65p/kWh
Smart Charge (some)45-55p/kWh

How It Works

StepAction
1Identify network at your store
2Download correct app
3Start charge
4Pay via app or contactless

What to Know

FactorDetails
Inconsistent networkDifferent operators at different stores
Nectar pointsNo EV charging integration
AvailabilityExpanding slowly

Aldi Charging

Pricing

NetworkCost
New Motion (many stores)Often FREE
Pod Point (some stores)Often FREE
InstaVolt (some stores)69-79p/kWh

What to Know

FactorDetails
Free charging commonCustomer benefit
Limited chargersOften just 2-4 per store
Time limitsWhile shopping
Growing networkExpanding rapidly

Aldi has a good track record of free charging where available.

Morrisons Charging

Pricing

NetworkCost
GeniePoint (most)40-50p/kWh
InstaVolt (some)69-79p/kWh
BP Pulse (some)55-65p/kWh

What to Know

FactorDetails
Network variesCheck before arriving
Fewer free optionsMostly paid charging
Good coverageMany stores have chargers

Cost Comparison Table

Price per kWh (Typical)

SupermarketSlow (7kW)Fast (22kW)Rapid (50kW+)
TescoFREEFREE40p
LidlFREEFREEFREE (rare)
AldiFREEFREE70p (if InstaVolt)
Asda40p40p65p
Sainsbury's45p45p60p
Morrisons45p45p65p

Cost for 50 Miles of Range

SupermarketSlow ChargerRapid Charger
TescoFREE£8
LidlFREEFREE
AldiFREE£14
Asda£8£13
Sainsbury's£9£12
Morrisons£9£13

Tips for Supermarket Charging

Maximising Value

TipWhy
Target Tesco/Lidl/AldiBest chance of free charging
Check app before goingSee if chargers available
Time your shoppingMatch charge time to shop time
Use while shopping anywayDon't make special trips

What to Watch

IssueSolution
Charger occupiedTry different store or time
Charger brokenReport via app, try another
Time limitsDon't overstay
Blocked by ICE carsReport to store

Apps You'll Need

SupermarketApp
Tesco, LidlPod Point
Asda (varies)GeniePoint, BP Pulse
Sainsbury's (varies)Pod Point, BP Pulse
AldiNew Motion, Pod Point
MorrisonsGeniePoint

Comparison to Other Charging

Cost per 50 Miles

LocationTypical Cost
Home (EV tariff)£2.50
Home (standard)£6
Supermarket (free)£0
Supermarket (paid)£8-12
Motorway rapid£15-20

Supermarket charging sits between home and motorway — convenient for top-ups.

Best Strategy

Charging TypeBest Use
HomePrimary charging (cheapest)
SupermarketTop-ups while shopping (free/cheap)
WorkplaceIf available (often free)
MotorwayLong journeys only (expensive)

Is Free Supermarket Charging Worth Seeking Out?

The Calculation

FactorConsideration
Time valueIs the detour worth the saving?
What you'd save£5-10 per charge typically
ConvenienceAre you shopping there anyway?
AvailabilityCan you actually get a charger?

The Verdict

Use supermarket charging when:

✅ You're shopping there anyway

✅ You need a top-up

✅ Charger is available

✅ It's free or cheap

Don't go out of your way if:

❌ Long detour required

❌ Chargers often occupied

❌ You have cheap home charging

❌ Small amount of charge needed

Summary

QuestionAnswer
Cheapest supermarket?Lidl, Tesco (free slow charging)
How much for 50 miles?£0-10 depending on supermarket
Do I need an app?Usually yes (Pod Point most common)
Is it worth it?Yes, if you're shopping there anyway
Best strategy?Charge at home, top up at supermarket

The Bottom Line

Supermarket charging is a great supplement to home charging:

  • 1Tesco and Lidl offer the best value (often free)
  • 2Most others charge 40-50p/kWh for slow chargers
  • 3Match charge time to shopping time for efficiency
  • 4Don't rely on it as primary charging
  • 5Check availability before planning around it

    • The ideal strategy: Charge at home on an EV tariff (7-15p/kWh), top up at supermarkets when convenient (free-50p/kWh), and use motorway rapids only when necessary (70p+/kWh).

    Supermarket charging won't cover all your needs, but it's a useful free/cheap option when you're shopping anyway.

    Related Topics

    supermarket EV chargingTesco EV charging costAsda chargingLidl EV chargerfree supermarket chargingSainsburys EV

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