In March this year, Shell Recharge EV chargers began operating at the first six Tesco stores, offering motorists convenient charging while they shop. Since then, the network has expanded to 24 additional locations, with charging stations now available at hypermarkets in Csongrád-Csanád, Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komárom-Esztergom, Pest and Veszprém counties, and one store each in Békés, Győr-Moson-Sopron and Vas counties. The two companies have set a target of nationwide coverage by the end of this year.
The posts, which provide both standard and fast charging, have a capacity of between 11 and 100 kW and allow six vehicles to be charged simultaneously from three charging points in most hypermarkets, bringing the current network to 162 charging points.
The standard AC (alternating current) chargers are ideal for longer parking periods, while the DC (direct current) chargers offer faster charging for those in a hurry, Shell says.
“I am proud that we have been working consciously for years to reduce our environmental impact. Nothing proves this better than the fact that since the 2016/17 financial year, we have reduced our carbon emissions by 63% and cut the amount of food waste generated by our operations by 70% in the last seven years,” says Zsolt Pálinkás, CEO of Tesco Hungary.
“Through our certificates, we’ve been using renewable electricity in our stores since 2020, and we recently installed solar arrays on the roofs of 25 of our stores, which also support more sustainable operations. Our partnership with Shell Hungary will help us become carbon neutral in our own operations by 2035 and achieve net zero emissions in our supply chain by 2050, in line with the UN target of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius,” he adds.
Sarolta Vecsey, head of mobility business, Shell Hungary Zrt., also welcomed the expansion.
“In line with our energy transition goals as set out in the Shell Powering Progress strategy, we are committed to offering our customers as many low-carbon solutions as possible. One of these is to become a world leader in operating our own electric car charging network,” she notes.
“With the Shell Recharge charging network, which we are growing through our partnership with Tesco, we are taking a big step in this direction and will provide convenient and fast charging for our customers and Tesco shoppers with nationwide coverage by the end of the year,” she adds.
The partnership between Tesco and Shell extends beyond sustainability efforts to retail. In December 2019, the companies opened the first Tesco mini shop at the Shell filling station on Haller utca, in Budapest’s District IX, and the number is growing yearly. Today, visitors can choose from a wide range of Tesco products at 63 locations nationwide, and the network will be expanded with more outlets in the near future.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of June 14, 2024.
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