November 30, 2023
In eastern France, Equans is installing three new electric vehicle charging stations at its 83rd Lidl store to promote zero-emission mobility
Opened on July 19, 2023, the new Lidl supermarket in Saint-Étienne (42), located on Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, further strengthens Lidl’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Awarded to Ineo, a subsidiary of Equans France, the contract for the installation, operation, and maintenance of its three electric charging stations is far from an isolated case. This project is part of a broader contract signed with the retailer to equip more than 80 sites in the Grand Est, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regions.
To date, Ineo has installed more than 320 charging stations on behalf of Lidl in eastern France and maintains a similar number.
In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, it’s possible to charge enough for 100 km in just 3 minutes!
According to AlixPartners, by 2030, 49% of the French vehicle fleet will consist of electric models and 21% of plug-in hybrids. The momentum is building, but electric charging infrastructure is essential to accelerate the rollout of electric mobility. Drawing on its expertise in electrical engineering, Equans is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of domestic travel through its IRVE* offering for mass-market retailers.
At the Lidl in Saint-Etienne, three new charging stations were installed this summer: two stations, each with two charging points for a total of four 22-kW charging points, and one fast-charging station with two 60-kW charging points.
Similarly, last year, eight charging stations with 14 charging points were installed in the parking lot of the Lidl supermarket in Villefranche-sur-Saône (69). Among them is an “ultra-fast” charging station with a power output of 360 kW, which allows drivers to charge enough for up to 100 km in 3 minutes—or 350 km of range in 15 minutes.
In both Saint-Étienne and Villefranche-sur-Saône, Ineo carried out the following work: implementation of the “yellow tariff,” installation of EV charging stations, cable laying, and commissioning of the infrastructure. In addition to advising on technology selection and the deployment of charging stations, the Equans France unit also handled the preparation of a grant application to finance these new installations for the benefit of all residents of Saint-Étienne and Villefranche-sur-Saône. For Lidl, the benefits are threefold. On the one hand, the charging stations help build customer loyalty by offering reliable, high-performance, and competitively priced charging solutions in the supermarket parking lot. Second, with its 3,700 charging points—including 1,850 charging stations across 805 supermarkets powered entirely by green electricity—the retailer is actively contributing to the energy transition while diversifying its revenue streams.
*Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Photovoltaic shade structures: a solution that goes above and beyond
Equans France’s expertise extends beyond the commissioning and maintenance of charging stations. In Delle, in the Territoire de Belfort (90), Ineo has installed solar panels for another Lidl location. The supermarket is now partially energy self-sufficient thanks to the 984 m² of panels mounted on the store’s roof.
For the retail sector, the challenges are many. Beyond energy independence, financial savings, increased property value, and carbon neutrality initiatives are all compelling reasons to adopt such installations. Furthermore, the French regulatory framework strongly encourages this type of initiative, as exemplified by the law on accelerating renewable energy production and the DEET, which, it should be noted, mandates a gradual reduction in energy consumption for commercial buildings larger than 1,000 m²: 40% by 2030, 50% by 2040, and 60% by 2050. Very soon, the installation of photovoltaic shade structures for outdoor parking lots larger than 1,500 m² will also become mandatory, with penalties for noncompliance. Equans is stepping up to help the retail sector meet this major challenge.
“ Ineo, a division of Equans France, is committed to identifying the most appropriate technical solution based on the client’s specifications. As part of our contract with Lidl, we took into account the financial and environmental challenges outlined to deliver a project that is both cost-effective and environmentally responsible, benefiting as many people as possible. As a player active across the entire value chain, Equans France leverages its expertise as a developer, installer, integrator, and maintainer of solutions to support the retail sector in its energy and environmental transition. ”
“ In line with the Paris Agreement, Lidl is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across its entire operations and is supporting all its stakeholders in this effort. As part of this effort, Lidl is proud to be a leader in providing electric vehicle charging stations powered by 100% green electricity in its parking lots. In 2023, 500 new charging stations were made available to our customers. ”
