IKEA Invests £4.5m In EV Charging Infrastructure for Last Mile Delivery

The new infrastructure will source energy entirely through renewable sources.

This will be one of the biggest EV charging infrastructure projects for last mile fleets in the UK and will see IKEA install 196 chargers, of which 53 will be rapid, providing full charge on vehicles in under an hour. The chargers will be located at IKEA stores and across the country, as well as the new Dartford CDC due to open in spring 2023, with the first ones fitted in IKEA Cardiff this month.

The charging points will be available for all electric vehicles making home deliveries across the UK and Ireland for IKEA.

The EV infrastructure forms part of IKEA’s ongoing transformation to become even more affordable, accessible, and sustainable. The retailer aims to reach 100% zero emissions deliveries to customers by 2025. By summer 2023, IKEA plans to achieve 60% zero emission deliveries in the UK and Ireland, demonstrating the significant steps being taken to accelerate moving towards the 2025 goal.

IKEA’s commitment to rolling out an electric vehicle charging infrastructure will advance the UK’s ambitions to achieve its legally binding targets of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 building on the Government’s response to the Skidmore Review.

The move comes as part of IKEA’s plans to enable a future built on operating with electric vehicles and follows recent investment in 23 new zero emission, fully electric ‘Maxus eDeliver 9’ vehicles for all stores in the UK and Ireland.

“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at IKEA, and we are always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the planet while supporting our customers to live more sustainable lives at home.”

Jakob Bertilsson, Country Customer Fulfilment Manager at IKEA UK & Ireland

“Investing in this infrastructure of nationwide charging points is a fundamental step in our ambition to reach 100% zero emissions deliveries from all IKEA stores and distribution centres to customers by 2025, as well as supporting our ambition to become a fully circular business by 2030.”

The investment from IKEA has also been welcomed by the government.

Transport Decarbonisation Minister Jesse Norman said: “It is great to see IKEA investing heavily in EV chargepoints and decarbonising its vehicle fleet.

“This investment is the latest example of businesses and government working together to decarbonise all aspects of road transport, improve air quality and create healthier, buzzing communities.”

To build the nationwide infrastructure, IKEA is partnering with Mer, a European charging company owned by Statkraft, which is Europe’s largest renewable energy producer. Mer will be responsible for the end-to-end implementation and ongoing management and maintenance.

“IKEA is an iconic brand with a recognised commitment to sustainability. When they needed future-proof charge points for their zero-emission, last-mile fleet, they wanted to work with a partner who shares these values.”

Natasha Fry, Head of Sales at Mer UK

“Rolling out charging infrastructure for electric vans is rarely straightforward and IKEA recognised that they needed an EV charging expert to guide them through the complexities of a project of this size. We look forward to supporting the IKEA team and, importantly, its customers in making sure last-mile deliveries are efficient and emission-free.” 

Find out more about IKEA’s sustainability ambitions and commitments, in the sustainability strategy, People and Planet Positive.