SAINSBURY’S is offering EV drivers the opportunity to nab extra Nectar points while they do their food shop.
The supermarket giant is rolling out the new parking scheme in a clampdown on a “ghost charging”.
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This is when electric vehicle owners park in one of the top-up spots for the space – but don’t actually plug in.
Sainsbury’s found from its own surveys that 70 per cent of EV drivers agreed they need to display better ‘charging etiquette’.
And, larger cities such as Cardiff, Birmingham and Belfast ranked the worst for this issue, as reported by Metro.
Now, to combat the issue, those who use the charging points can earn extra Nectar points.
The supermarket is the first to do so, after their research found 90 per cent of customers were annoyed by those flouting parking rules.
Trish Devin, customer director at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, said: “Customers can now also reap the benefit of collecting Nectar points whilst charging.
“Not to forget the added advantage of popping into a Sainsbury’s store to pick up some groceries while waiting for their vehicle to charge.”
Customers who park up their EVs also expressed frustrations with long waiting times and what’s known as ‘cable spaghetti’.
This is when drivers plug in the wrong charging cable into their car which leads to tangles.
In response to the collected data, Sainsbury’s joined together with famous etiquette coach William Hanson.
According to the expert, electric vehicle users shouldn’t plug in for more than 30 minutes as this should be enough time to get up to 200 extra miles in the bank.
Meanwhile, people should not park over the lines, or use the charging point bays if they are not planning on topping up.
How do Nectar cards work?
Under the Nectar card scheme, customers collect points when buying certain products or goods, in-store and online.
You receive one loyalty point for every £1 spent.
You also get one point for every £1 spent on fuel bought at Sainsbury’s petrol stations and can pick up points at hundreds of partners as well, including Esso and eBay.
You can register and download an e-Nectar Card by downloading the app on your smartphone.
You then swipe it every time you shop and the points are added to your account, which can be used to get money off future purchases.
Each point is effectively worth 0.5p, meaning you need 500 points to get £2.50 off.
It comes as an electric vehicle expert told how parking at the supermarket could lead to huge fines.
Meanwhile, the worst spots across the UK for EV rapid charging points – with thousands of drivers affected in two major cities – have been revealed.
Plus, the fastest charging electric vehicle brands and models have been shared.
Want to save money on your Sainsbury’s purchase? Then head to Sun Vouchers where you can get discounts and voucher codes from Sainsbury’s.