The benefits of transitioning to electric vehicles are often talked about in terms of sustainability and increasing revenues for retail destinations. But the impact of EV chargers on local communities is often overlooked. Already, retail destinations form a core third space in the UK, providing a location not only for shopping but also socialising and community events. In this article, we explore how installing EV charging can further help retail locations to positively benefit their local communities and customers.
Improving access to sustainable mobility
In the UK, 33% of households lack a driveway. This prevents them from being able to utilise home charging, which means EV drivers who live in flats, terraced houses and other urban developments rely on public chargers. The lack of access to public charging is a significant contributor to the hesitation to make the switch from petrol/diesel to EV. This is where retail destinations can help.
By installing chargers at shopping centres, retail parks and supermarkets retailers can make sustainable transport more practical. Installing a charging hub at such locations means that people can charge their EV as part of their weekly errands. This reduces the need to go out of their way to search for EV chargers and allows for the customer shopping and charging experience to integrate smoothly into their lives.
On the other hand, for retail destinations located in more rural communities, EV charging hubs help to fill the public charging gap where access to charging infrastructure might be heavily limited. By filling these drought zones, retail destinations can help to make EV charging more equitable and are thus becoming a vital part of the UK’s public EV infrastructure network.
Safer communities
When drivers charge their EVs, their safety is of paramount importance. In the past, you would too often find EV chargers in remote or poorly lit areas, which are hardly welcoming to drivers with families or those looking to charge late at night.
For many people, the safety factor can be decisive in their choice of charging location. Knowing there is a dependable and secure space for powering their EV encourages return visits and protects the local community.
A retail destination makes for the perfect location for an EV charging hub that creates a safer space to charge. Their parking areas are already designed to prioritise safety and accessibility. The presence of streetlamps, CCTV and security staff, while also being high footfall, public locations add to the sense of security.
Engaging with the community
Retail destinations have long since prioritised the concept of placemaking, whereby it is important to foster communities surrounding a space, making it a desirable location. The presence of EV chargers can help play into this.
Some shopping centres often work with their EV charging partners to use their charging hubs as focal points for events. For instance, you might want to host an Earth Day event to promote your sustainability initiatives. Your EV chargers could act as one of the anchors for your messaging, as part of the event could be workshops around charging or EV test drives encouraging EV adoption. By bringing EV charging into a community and normalising it in a familiar, safe space, people can make the switch more confidently, and you can demonstrate how your site is a leader in sustainability.
Supporting the local economy
EV chargers also positively impact the local economy. For instance, shoppers at a retail park who plug-in while they charge are more likely to stay there longer, leading to a higher level of incidental spending. In our 2024 customer survey we found that 57% of EV drivers prefer to shop or eat while their car charges. This benefits every retailer in the area at every size, from big box stores to pop-up stands.
The presence of a charging hub also attracts visitors from further afield. Drivers who plan long journeys are more willing to choose a location where they can take a break and stretch their legs, ideally somewhere with amenities and shops.
An EV charging hub is a powerful attractor to a retail destination that helps to draw in new customers and increase the loyalty of existing ones, therefore improving the footfall of the site and its surrounding businesses.
Greener communities
With the transport sector of the UK being the biggest contributor to carbon emissions (29%) the transition to EVs forms a key part of the government’s net-zero plans. By providing EV charging at your site, you are helping to provide cleaner air and cut down on noise pollution in your community. Due to their visibility, EV charging hubs help to reinforce the social norm of sustainability, cementing your own efforts into the mind of the public.
You might already have your own sustainability programmes in place, which EV chargers can integrate with. For instance, you might have installed solar panels or other renewable sources of energy, which can then be used to power the chargers. EV chargers, when seen as part of the bigger picture, can help to improve the health and environment of the surrounding community of your retail destination.
A third space for the future
Retail destinations have long been central to the communities they serve. They are locations where people shop, eat, socialise and relax. By hosting a charging hub at the site, you can also become a key part of the UK’s public charging network, whilst also benefitting the community socially, economically and environmentally. Your car park evolves from a purely functional stretch of tarmac to a powerful hub for change.
To help with this process you will need to work with an EV charging partner such as Mer. We have 9 years of experience in working with retail destinations to deliver high-impact, revenue-generating EV charging hubs.
From coordinating with grid operators to selecting the right hardware and managing on-site works, EV charging installations are complex. Choosing an expert partner like Mer reduces risks, ensures regulatory compliance and delivers high-quality, future-proofed infrastructure. If you are looking to install EV charging in your retail site’s car park and want to know what else should be considered, download our latest e-guide.
For more information please visit the Mer website or email us at info.uk@mer.eco
