Longer Visits, Bigger Baskets: How EV Charging Improves Dwell Time in Retail
EV charging keeps shoppers on your site for as long as their car needs to charge. In Germany, 59% of EV drivers say they would probably stay longer at a retailer that offers charging, and most grocery customers charge for 30 to 60 minutes. With one in five new cars in the EU now fully electric, that extra time is turning into a measurable lever for footfall, basket size and loyalty.
Why Longer Visits Matter, and Where EV Charging Fits In
Dwell time is the time a shopper spends on your site. The longer they stay, the more chances they have to browse, pick up something extra or stop for a coffee. That is why retailers invest in cafés, seating and kids' corners.
The link between time and spend shows up in the data. A 2026 study at a German supermarket chain found that shoppers who stayed 23% longer in store also spent 32% more on average.¹ That study looked at smart trolleys, not EV charging, but the principle is the same: give people a reason to stay, and they tend to buy more.
EV charging creates exactly that reason. A driver who plugs in has a clear incentive to stay until the car has enough range, so the visit is planned around the charge, not cut short. 59% of EV drivers say they would probably stay longer at a retailer that offers charging, and the German retail research institute EHI concludes that charging while shopping can increase time in store and, often, sales.²
Sources: ¹ Bayes Business School, City St George's, University of London, AI trolley users rack up higher basket values and spend longer in store; ² EHI Retail Institute, Laden beim Handel: Shoppen und Strom tanken (with UScale)
Data as Proofpoint
Data | What it means for your store |
|---|---|
20.7% of new EU cars in H1 2026 were battery-electric (15.6% a year earlier)¹ | Your EV-driving customer base grows every quarter |
23% of European charging sessions happen at public chargers² | Drivers who charge away from home choose where to do it, and charging at shops and car parks (destination charging) is part of that choice |
30% of EV drivers already charge at customer car parks³ | Retail parking is part of the charging routine |
59% of EV drivers would probably stay longer at a retailer with charging³ | A direct dwell-time effect |
41% of drivers rank supermarkets and shopping centres in their top two locations for more chargers⁴ | Demand for retail charging is there |
35% of Europe's parking spaces are at retail, leisure and supermarket sites⁵ | Retail car parks are the natural home for destination charging |
Sources: ¹ ACEA, New car registrations: +5.7% in H1 2026; battery-electric 20.7% market share; ² McKinsey & Company, Exploring consumer sentiment on electric-vehicle charging; ³ EHI Retail Institute, Laden beim Handel: Shoppen und Strom tanken (with UScale); ⁴ Mobility Plaza, Turning dwell time into business (Oliver Wyman research); ⁵ Savills, Spotlight: European EV charging points
How Long Do Shoppers Charge?
The answer depends on your format. EHI's survey of German retailers found that in grocery, 77% of customers charge for 30 to 60 minutes. In shopping centres, 45% charge for one to two hours.
Here is what that time delivers (based on an average consumption of about 17 kWh per 100 km):
- Supermarket visit, 30 to 60 minutes on 11 kW AC: roughly 5 to 11 kWh, or 30 to 65 km of range.
- Shopping centre visit, 1 to 2 hours on 11 kW AC: roughly 11 to 22 kWh, or 65 to 130 km.
- Quick stop, 15 to 20 minutes on 50 kW DC: up to 12 to 16 kWh, or 75 to 100 km.
That is a meaningful top-up for most daily driving, and it is exactly the kind of charge drivers are happy to plan around a shopping trip.
Sources: CE-Markt, EHI-Studie: Elektromobilität im Handel steigert Kundenloyalität
Match Charger Speed to Visit Length
Faster is not always better for retail. A high-power charger can fill a car in 15 minutes, and the driver may never walk through your doors. EHI's 2025 study shows that regular AC chargers on retail sites are occupied about half the time, DC chargers 34% of the time and high-power chargers about 25%.
A simple rule of thumb by store format:
Store format | Typical visit | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
Supermarket or discounter | 30 to 60 min | 11 to 22 kW AC, plus one or two DC points for quick stops |
DIY, furniture or garden centre | 45 to 90 min | 11 to 22 kW AC |
Shopping centre or retail park | 1 to 3 hours | Mainly AC, with a small DC hub for convenience |
Convenience store or drive-through | Under 20 min | DC |
Want the technical background? Our guide on AC vs DC EV charging explains the difference.
Sources: Baumarktmanager, EHI-Studie: Handel liefert verlässlichen Beitrag beim Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur
How EV Charging Builds Customer Loyalty
- Loyalty is the main driver. 77% of German retailers with chargers say customer loyalty is their number one reason to invest.
- Link charging to your loyalty programme. Only 5% of retailers offer charging-linked discounts today, but 43% plan to. Think: first 30 minutes free for card holders, or a coffee voucher per session.
- Set fair-use rules. Time limits or idle fees keep bays free for the next shopper, not for all-day parkers.
Sources: Baumarktmanager, EHI-Studie: Handel liefert verlässlichen Beitrag beim Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur
How to Add Chargers Without Overloading Your Grid Connection
- Check your grid connection first. Most stores were not designed for a car park full of chargers. Dynamic load balancing shares the available power between the building and the chargers, so you can often avoid an expensive grid upgrade.
- Use your roof. Many retailers already have rooftop solar. 36% of German retailers with chargers use their own electricity, for example from solar panels.
- Plan for regulation. The EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets charging requirements for non-residential car parks. Read what the EPBD deadline means for commercial property owners.
Planning chargers on a tight grid connection? See how energy management for retail sites keeps the store and the chargers running within your capacity.
Sources: Baumarktmanager, EHI-Studie: Handel liefert verlässlichen Beitrag beim Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur
Does EV Charging in Retail Pay for Itself?
The return does not come from one place. It is built from three lines:
- Charging revenue. Most retailers charge for the energy: 72% of German retailers with chargers ask customers to pay for electricity, and only 7% offer it free.¹
- Extra spend per visit. Longer visits create more chances to buy, as the dwell-time data above shows.
- Repeat visits. Customers who build your store into their charging routine come back.
There is also a model with no charging business to run yourself. Charge point operators lease space on retail car parks, and Savills reports typical rents of €1,000 to €5,000 per charger per year over leases of 20 to 25 years.²
Want to open your chargers to the public without handling payment and roaming yourself? Our CPO services take care of it.
On the cost side, load management and smart scheduling keep peak demand and energy costs predictable.
Sources: ¹ Baumarktmanager, EHI-Studie: Handel liefert verlässlichen Beitrag beim Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur; ² Savills, Spotlight: European EV charging points
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EV charging increase the time customers spend in store?
Yes. In a German survey by EHI and UScale, 59% of EV drivers said they would probably stay longer at a retailer that offers charging. Grocery customers typically charge for 30 to 60 minutes, and shopping centre customers often for one to two hours.
What charging speed is best for a supermarket?
AC charging at 11 to 22 kW suits most supermarket visits of 30 to 60 minutes. Add one or two DC chargers if many customers make short stops.
Should retailers offer free EV charging?
Most do not. 72% of German retailers with chargers ask customers to pay for electricity. A popular middle ground is a loyalty perk, such as free charging for the first 30 minutes.
Will EV chargers overload my store's electrical connection?
Not if you manage them. Dynamic load balancing shares the available capacity between the building and the chargers in real time, so the connection limit is never exceeded.
Are retailers required to install EV chargers?
The EU's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive sets charging requirements for non-residential buildings with larger car parks. Exact rules and deadlines depend on how your country transposes the directive.
Planning EV charging for one store or a whole chain? Discover how EV charging and energy management for retail work together.