IKEA UK and Mer make huge investment into charging electric vans
Ikea has commissioned Mer to install charging stations at Ikea stores across the UK and Ireland. With £4.5 million, Ikea and Mer will build nearly 200 charging stations to increase Ikea’s global network. The home furnishing retailer will also grow the EV fleet.
The investment partnership announced today with Mer will be one of the region’s biggest EV charging infrastructure projects for last mile fleet service, Statkraft’s charging business beholds. Ikea added it was its ambition to reach over 500 charging points by 2025.
“Investing in this infrastructure of nationwide charging points is a fundamental step in our ambition to reach 100% zero emissions deliveries from all Ikea stores and distribution centres to customers by 2025, as well as supporting our ambition to become a fully circular business by 2030,” said Jakob Bertilsson, Country Customer Fulfilment Manager at Ikea UK & Ireland.
The chargers will be located at Ikea stores and across the country, as well as the new Dartford CDC due to open in spring 2023, with the first ones fitted in Ikea Cardiff this month.
Electric vehicles making home deliveries across the UK and Ireland for Ikea may charge at the stores. These are not open for customers but for Ikea and partner electric vehicles.
The move follows recent investment by Ikea in 23 new zero-emission Maxus eDeliver 9 vans for all stores in the UK and Ireland. It is part of Ikea’s targeting to have 60 per cent of its deliveries in the UK and Ireland powered by electric vehicles by summer of 2023 and all deliveries from 2025. This aligns with global targets the home furnishing retailer has set for some through initiatives like the EV100+ pledge to decarbonise its operations worldwide.
Natasha Fry, Head of Sales at Mer UK, added, “Rolling out charging infrastructure for electric vans is rarely straightforward, and IKEA recognised that they needed an EV charging expert to guide them through the complexities of a project of this size.”
Mer will be responsible for the implementation and management, and maintenance.
Ikea also announced expanding its charging network in Canada this week, as reported.
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