Sainsbury’s ultra-rapid EV charging network, Smart Charge, has reached a milestone by saving the equivalent of 60 million fossil fuel miles on UK roads.

In just over a year, the service, which is designed to improve access to on-the-go charging and looks to accelerate the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy, has resulted in a reduction of 10.71 million kg of CO2 emissions compared to non-electric vehicles.

The supermarket giant launched the Smart Charge brand in January 2024 and has since rolled out more than 650 ultra-rapid charging bays across over 75 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.

In this latest milestone, Smart Charge has supplied enough renewable energy through its ultra-rapid charging stations to power electric vehicles for over 60 million miles – a distance that is enough to drive from Land’s End to John o’ Groats and back over 35,000 times.

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Sainsbury’s chief property and procurement officer and Smart Charge MD Patrick Dunne said: “Reaching 60 million fossil free miles in just over a year shows what’s possible with investment and a relentless focus on our customers.

“We set out to remove the barriers to EV adoption by making charging fast, reliable and easy – and that’s exactly what Smart Charge delivers, at convenient locations where lots of EV drivers already shop.

“Investing in our EV network is a key part of our Next Level Sainsbury’s strategy, and we’re just getting started. We’re excited to keep building on its initial success and take Smart Charge even further in the months and years ahead.”

Over the past 12 months, Sainsbury’s has invested £25 million in the network, which allows customers to recharge their EVs in as little as 30 minutes with ultra-rapid 150kW chargers while they shop.

All the chargers are powered by the same 100% renewable energy that powers Sainsbury’s wider estate and come with access to 24/7 driver support.