Sainsbury’s Partners with Openreach for EV Charging Access

Openreach secures charging access across 80 Sainsbury’s locations

Sainsbury’s Smart Charge network has opened its doors to Openreach engineers, granting access to ultra-rapid charging facilities at 80 stores nationwide. The arrangement supports Openreach’s fleet of over 6,000 electric vans, making it one of the UK’s largest commercial EV operations. For businesses managing substantial vehicle fleets, this partnership highlights a growing trend: major retailers filling critical gaps in public charging infrastructure.

Openreach operates the physical network that connects homes and businesses to phone and broadband services across the UK. The company, owned by BT Group, has been converting its fleet to electric vehicles at considerable pace. By the end of March 2026, it expects to run 7,000 electric vans. However, expanding a fleet this size creates practical challenges that extend beyond simply purchasing vehicles.

Charging infrastructure presents a persistent obstacle. Openreach has invested £3 million in this area, including more than 3,500 home charging units for engineers. Nevertheless, roughly one-third of its workforce cannot install home chargers because they live in flats or properties without suitable parking. Half of all Openreach engineers currently depend on public charging networks to keep their vehicles operational.

Sainsbury’s entered the EV charging market in 2024 with Smart Charge, positioning itself as the UK’s first supermarket chain to own and operate its charging business directly. The network uses Kempower technology and focuses specifically on ultra-rapid charging. By late 2024, the retailer had installed over 750 charging bays across more than 100 stores, placing it among the top five ultra-rapid providers in the country.

What the partnership provides to Openreach engineers

The agreement grants Openreach engineers priority access to 150kW charging points at 80 Sainsbury’s locations. These chargers can deliver a full charge in approximately 30 minutes, providing up to 200 miles of range. Some bays support speeds up to 300kW for compatible vehicles, cutting charging time further.

Each location offers tap-to-pay payment systems, removing the need for multiple apps or membership cards. Engineers also receive 24/7 technical support and can collect Nectar loyalty points on charging sessions. Consequently, the arrangement addresses two concerns simultaneously: it provides reliable charging infrastructure and adds a modest financial incentive through the rewards program.

Judy O’Keefe, Openreach’s Director of Fleet, explained the rationale: “Switching a fleet of our size to electric is a big job, and it only works if day-to-day charging is simple for our engineers. With this agreement, our engineers – particularly those who can’t install a home charger – have access to fast, reliable public charging at Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.”

This is not Openreach’s first attempt to expand charging options beyond home installations. Previously, the company partnered with First Bus to allow engineers to use depot chargers at bus facilities. That arrangement helped reduce pressure on public networks in specific locations. The Sainsbury’s partnership extends this approach across a wider geographic area, covering regions where bus depot access may not be practical.

How Sainsbury’s built its charging network

Sainsbury’s developed Smart Charge in response to well-documented frustrations among EV drivers. Research commissioned by the retailer found that 40% of drivers cite broken chargers as a major concern. Additionally, 36% point to insufficient charging bays, while 33% complain about slow charging speeds. These issues create range anxiety that affects both personal and commercial vehicle users.

The company designed its network around ultra-rapid charging specifically. Traditional public chargers often operate at 7kW or 22kW, requiring several hours for a full charge. In contrast, Sainsbury’s 150kW units can deliver usable range in the time it takes to complete a supermarket shop. For commercial fleet operators, this speed translates directly into reduced downtime and improved operational efficiency.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement, and EV ventures, outlined the company’s aim: “With our new network of easy-to-use and reliable charging points conveniently located in our supermarkets, Smart Charge will make a real difference to EV drivers in the UK.” The integration of charging with regular shopping trips is central to the business model. Drivers can charge their vehicles while purchasing groceries, rather than making dedicated trips to motorway service stations or standalone charging hubs.

By early 2025, Smart Charge hubs were operational at over 20 stores, with ongoing expansion detailed at www.SmartCharge.co.uk. The rollout prioritizes locations with high footfall and proximity to major road networks. Consequently, the network serves both local residents and commercial drivers covering wider territories, such as Openreach engineers traveling between customer appointments.

Why large fleets face distinct charging challenges

Commercial vehicle fleets encounter infrastructure problems that differ from those facing private car owners. For individual EV owners, home charging typically covers 80-90% of requirements. Public chargers serve as backup for longer journeys. However, fleet operators often cannot rely on home charging to the same extent.

Openreach employs engineers across diverse housing types and regions. Urban engineers frequently live in flats without dedicated parking. Rural engineers may have driveways but encounter electrical supply limitations that make home charger installation expensive or impossible. Meanwhile, fleet vehicles accumulate higher mileage than private cars, demanding more frequent charging sessions.

This creates dependency on workplace and public infrastructure. Openreach’s £3 million investment in charging includes depot facilities, but depot charging alone cannot serve a workforce that operates from dispersed home locations. Engineers typically collect their vans from home each morning rather than reporting to a central depot. Therefore, accessible public charging along their daily routes becomes essential.

Research by Sainsbury’s reveals that 80% of EV users avoid long trips due to charging concerns. Furthermore, 32% have never used ultra-rapid chargers, suggesting unfamiliarity with the technology or lack of convenient access. For fleet operators, this translates into potential route planning difficulties and reduced vehicle utilization. Addressing these concerns requires charging infrastructure that is geographically distributed, reliably maintained, and fast enough to minimize interruption to working schedules.

Implications for businesses managing vehicle transitions

The Sainsbury’s-Openreach arrangement demonstrates several considerations relevant to companies electrifying their fleets. Firstly, home charging cannot be assumed as a universal solution. Businesses must plan for employees who cannot install home units, either through workplace facilities or partnerships with public charging providers.

Secondly, charging speed matters significantly for commercial operations. Standard public chargers may be adequate for overnight use, but they are impractical during working hours. Ultra-rapid charging allows drivers to top up during breaks without losing productive time. For service-based businesses like Openreach, where engineers travel between appointments, this speed can determine whether EV adoption is operationally viable.

Thirdly, the partnership approach offers a scalable alternative to building proprietary infrastructure. Developing private charging networks requires capital investment, ongoing maintenance, and geographic coverage that may not align with business locations. Partnering with retailers or other organizations that already operate extensive site networks can provide faster access to infrastructure without the associated overheads.

Rewards programs, such as Nectar points, add a modest financial benefit that may improve employee acceptance of EVs. While the value per charging session is relatively small, it creates a positive association with EV use and can offset minor inconveniences during the transition period. For businesses, this type of incentive costs nothing but potentially eases internal resistance to fleet changes.

Finally, the arrangement reduces strain on local electrical grids. Supermarket sites typically have substantial grid connections to support their operations. Adding EV charging utilizes existing capacity rather than requiring new connections in residential areas. Consequently, this approach may prove faster to deploy than installing thousands of individual home chargers or building new depot facilities.

Essential facts about the Sainsbury’s-Openreach arrangement

• Openreach operates over 6,000 electric vans, making it the UK’s second-largest commercial EV fleet, with plans to reach 7,000 vehicles by March 2026.
• The partnership provides Openreach engineers with access to 150kW ultra-rapid chargers at 80 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK.
• Approximately one-third of Openreach engineers cannot install home chargers due to living in flats or unsuitable properties, while half currently rely on public charging infrastructure.
• Sainsbury’s Smart Charge network had installed over 750 charging bays across more than 100 stores by late 2024, ranking it among the top five ultra-rapid providers in the UK.
• The 150kW chargers can deliver a full charge in around 30 minutes, providing up to 200 miles of range, with some bays supporting up to 300kW for compatible vehicles.
• Sainsbury’s research found that 40% of EV drivers cite broken chargers as a major concern, while 36% point to insufficient charging bays and 33% complain about slow speeds.
• Openreach has invested £3 million in charging infrastructure, including over 3,500 home charging units, plus previous partnerships with First Bus to access depot chargers.

What this means for fleet electrification strategies

Companies planning fleet transitions should assess their workforce housing situations early. Openreach’s experience shows that even with significant investment in home chargers, a substantial proportion of employees will require alternative solutions. Therefore, businesses should conduct surveys to identify how many employees have suitable home charging access before committing to specific infrastructure strategies.

Charging partnerships with retailers or other location-based businesses may provide better coverage than standalone charging providers. Retailers operate sites in residential areas, retail parks, and town centers where fleet drivers already travel for personal reasons. This familiarity can reduce adoption barriers compared to using motorway service stations or industrial charging hubs.

However, businesses should verify charging network reliability before entering agreements. Sainsbury’s emphasis on addressing broken chargers and consistent uptime reflects industry-wide problems with public charging infrastructure. Partnership agreements should include service level commitments for uptime and maintenance response times. Without these guarantees, fleet vehicles may face operational disruptions that undermine the business case for electrification.

The timing of the Openreach announcement, in early March 2026, coincides with the company’s target to reach 7,000 EVs by the end of that month. This suggests the partnership was secured as an enabling factor for continued fleet expansion rather than a retrospective solution. Businesses should similarly plan infrastructure access ahead of vehicle deliveries, particularly given lead times for commercial EV orders and the limited availability of some charging technologies.

Retailers may increasingly view charging infrastructure as a complementary revenue stream and customer attraction tool. Sainsbury’s investment in Smart Charge represents a significant commitment beyond simply installing a few chargers in car parks. Companies exploring partnerships should consider what benefits they can offer in return, such as fleet purchasing volume, brand visibility, or data sharing that helps optimize charger placement.

Where to find additional information

The Department for Transport publishes guidance on EV charging infrastructure for businesses, including grant programs that may support fleet transitions. Their resources cover workplace charging schemes and regulatory requirements for commercial vehicle operators.

The Energy Saving Trust provides independent advice on fleet electrification, including total cost of ownership calculators and case studies from other large fleet operators. They also maintain updated information on available grants and funding support for businesses.

For businesses considering carbon reporting compliance and understanding how fleet transitions affect emissions calculations, professional guidance can help ensure accurate reporting under PPN 006 and other procurement requirements.

Sainsbury’s maintains current information on Smart Charge locations and expansion plans at www.SmartCharge.co.uk, while Openreach occasionally publishes updates on its fleet transition through its corporate website and sustainability reports.