Charging stations to attract customers to the store

Auchan, Decathlon, Leroy Merlin, and Voltalia sign a partnership for the deployment of electric vehicle charging stations.

Voltalia, a renewable energy specialist, is partnering with three major French retailers, Auchan, Decathlon, and Leroy Merlin, to promote electric mobility by facilitating charging. This partnership aims to equip more than 350 parking lots across France with electric vehicle charging stations. These infrastructures will be managed by Yusco, a Voltalia subsidiary dedicated to electric mobility, and offered through “Le Plein,” a service created by the three retailers.

In France, nearly two million electric vehicles are already on the road, and this number is expected to explode by 2030. With seven million vehicles anticipated by that time, charging needs will be enormous, especially at everyday locations such as commercial parking lots. This project plans to install 5,000 charging points by 2028, tailored to the needs and budgets of users, with options for slow or ultra-fast charging.

The “Le Plein” service aims to be accessible and convenient. It integrates charging into the shopping journey, allowing customers to recharge their vehicle while grocery shopping. An app and RFID card offer additional benefits, such as discounts or loyalty points at partner stores.

Yusco develops stations suited for everyday locations such as shopping centers, leisure sites, or corporate parking lots. This model combines solar energy production and electric charging to promote self-consumption and sustainability. It also helps to build customer loyalty and makes the shopping experience more complete with this small extra that electric drivers highly appreciate. Every minute the vehicle is stationary during battery charging is time saved, and increasing the number of charging points could eventually eliminate one of the main barriers to transition: charging anxiety!

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