Sainsbury’s electric car rapid charging service Smart Charge has become the first EV charging network in the UK to offer a loyalty scheme.
Smart Charge customers with Nectar accounts will be able to collect points, at a rate of 1 Nectar point for every £1 spent on EV charging.
Nectar is the largest multi-partner loyalty scheme in the UK, allowing customers to spend points at Sainsbury’s, Argos, British Airways and others.
Sainsbury’s Smart Charge launched in January 2024. It is an ultra-rapid EV charging network with more than 400 charging bays and counting.
It doesn’t require a subscription or an app, and offers contactless payment.
Notably, Smart Charge is the only fully owned and managed EV charging business from a UK supermarket.
The food retailer now has 50 Smart Charge EV charging locations, with the latest to open being a 12-bay site at Sainsbury’s London Enfield superstore, just off the A10.
Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement and EV ventures, Patrick Dunne, said becoming the first EV charging provider to offer a loyalty scheme was a huge milestone. “Customers using any of our 400 Smart Charge bays across the country will now be able to benefit from collecting Nectar points.
“With bays in more locations than ever before, it has never been easier for EV drivers to access ultra-rapid facilities – and now they can reap the benefit of Nectar points too.”
How to collect Nectar points at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge EV chargers
Because it doesn’t require an app, collecting Nectar points at Smart Charge EV chargers is a more manual affair.
Once owners have tapped to pay via contactless payment, and plugged in their car, a ‘follow on mobile’ QR code appears on the charger screen.
Once scanned, an ‘add Nectar card number’ button will appear, followed by an ‘enter your Nectar card number’ window.
EV owners then type in their Nectar card number – which is a bit of a long-winded affair, but will see the points added.
Smart Charge has a top tip to save time here, too: if you have the Nectar app, tap the card icon and you’ll be able to copy and paste your number.
We’re sure the process will become easier with time – perhaps with a Smart Charge app, or integration into the Nectar app?
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