EV charging facilities to be installed at Stockport Decathlon store as part of retailer partnership with charging network

Sports retailer, Decathlon, has announced its Stockport branch will be the first to benefit from a national partnership with EV charging network, Be.EV.

Greater Manchester-based Be.EV will bring its ultra-rapid charging solutions to the chain’s stores nationwide. The Stockport store, one of the largest Decathlon stores nationwide at over 52,000 sq ft, will see 16 EV charging bays installed at its car park. The charging hub expected to be completed in April 2024.

Decathlon Stockport receives up to 20,000 visitors per week, and is located minutes from the M60 – which sees an average of over 83,000 vehicles a day. Stockport has close to 2700 registered electric vehicles, drivers of which will be able to charge their car whilst commuting or visiting the retailer.

The cutting-edge Kempower chargers will allow drivers to charge their vehicle to 80% in as little as 20 minutes, compared to 4-6 hours on a 7kW fast charger – a solution that matches Decathlon’s customer dwell time of approximately 30 minutes. The chargers also feature unique load-balancing abilities, meaning they can intelligently distribute energy supply between vehicles according to capacity and demand – making for a more efficient and convenient charging experience.

Decathlon’s deal with Be.EV is part of the retailer’s mission to achieve a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2026.

Asif Ghafoor, CEO and co-founder of Be.EV, said:

”We’re pleased to be partnering with such a high profile partner to deliver their EV strategy. Decathlon customers deserve reliable EV charging, and our state of the art charging infrastructure will bring high-quality charging to sites across the UK.

“Our charging hubs will offer shoppers a convenient moment to charge their car, and Decathlon is getting ahead of the curve by providing reliable, high quality charging facilities for their customers. 

“Other retailers should be taking note. As more and more people choose to drive electric vehicles, they’ll naturally gravitate to those brands that offer convenient charging whilst browsing their stores.”

Chris Allen, UK Sustainability & Circular Economy Leader, Decathlon, added: 

“Introducing ultra-rapid EV charging solutions at select stores in partnership with Be.EV exemplifies our commitment to responsible practices that can help contribute to a better environment. Aligning with our mission to champion people and planet-positive solutions.”