IKEA stores across Victoria and New South Wales are installing four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in each location to enable customers and co-workers to live a more sustainable life as it strives to create a zero emissions future for the company.
In Victoria, IKEA Richmond and Springvale have installed the chargers, and in New South Wales, coming soon to IKEA Tempe and Marsden Park, providing a safe and convenient location for customers and co-workers to charge their EVs while they shop, now and into the future.
The charging stations are currently free to use and will come with a Type 2 cable – meaning you won’t need to bring your own.
With more than half (56%) of Australians considering an electric vehicle as their next car, according to the Electric Vehicle Council, IKEA has ensured the locations of the chargers at each store can cater for expansion in the future.
Brendan Groll, Fulfilment Sourcing Manager, IKEA Australia, said, “At IKEA, we want to support our customers in taking climate action into their hands, to enable them to have a positive impact on people and the planet. As an organisation, we strive to provide sustainable services for our customers whilst looking to embed these climate-positive actions into our operations.
“The addition of charging stations in our stores in New South Wales and Victoria means we now have this infrastructure in seven out of ten IKEA stores across Australia, as well as our Distribution Centre, which provides for our service partners and co-workers on site.”
The action is part of the company’s global ambition to provide access to EV charging stations for customers and co-workers in all its owned car parks, to help reduce relative emissions by 50% from co-worker and customer travel to stores by 2030.
In addition, IKEA aims to use electric vehicles (EV) or other zero emission (ZE) solutions for 100% of customer delivery transport and services by 2025. IKEA was the first home-furnishing company in Australia to have EV last-mile deliveries and assembly services, having commenced trials in 2018.
As electric vehicle sales grow despite the pandemic and with growing momentum from businesses to reduce emissions, IKEA wants to see the pace and scale of the EV transition in Australia ramp up through a national electric vehicle policy and supportive regulation from the Australian Government.
Mr Groll said, “While we see the states charging ahead with supportive policy and investment, and businesses doing their best with the zero emissions vehicles available on the market, availability, affordability and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles are major barriers to Australia achieving a clean transport future for both businesses and the broader public. This is something we are encouraging the government to address at a national level.
“We want to work with other businesses and government to unite and drive the transition to a zero-emissions future, and we call on other retailers to join us in installing onsite charging stations where they can for customers, and support the transition of their transport fleets to zero emission vehicles.”
Currently, EV drivers at the four new locations can simply ‘plug and play’.
In coming weeks, they will need to have a Chargefox account. The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.
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