Retail park charging is EV charging deployed at out-of-town or suburban retail parks and shopping centers, where drivers typically stay for 30 minutes to several hours while shopping, dining, or using services. It is a form of destination charging designed to increase footfall, support tenant requirements, and improve customer experience—usually with a mix of AC charging for longer dwell and DC fast charging for higher turnover.
What Is Retail Park Charging?
Retail park charging serves:
– Shoppers and visitors (primary users)
– Employees and tenant staff (often longer dwell)
– Fleet and delivery vehicles servicing the park
– Travelers using the retail park as a convenient charging stop
Installations are commonly placed:
– Near anchor tenants and main entrances
– Along high-visibility parking rows
– At edge-of-site zones for larger DC equipment and easier grid connection
Why Retail Park Charging Matters
Retail parks compete on convenience. Charging can:
– Attract EV drivers and increase dwell time
– Improve customer satisfaction and loyalty
– Support tenant ESG and net zero commitments
– Create revenue through charging tariffs and partnerships
– Position the retail park as a mobility hub, not only a parking destination
For landlords, it can also improve property value and future-proof the site against EV adoption growth.
How Retail Park Charging Works
A typical retail park charging setup includes:
– A mix of charging bays (often more AC points plus a smaller number of DC fast chargers)
– Clear signage and bay markings, plus anti-ICEing measures
– Payment and access options (contactless, app, RFID, roaming depending on the operator)
– Load management to keep the site within grid capacity and reduce peak demand
– Remote monitoring and maintenance workflows to sustain high uptime
Retail park sites often have good space for charger placement but may face distribution challenges due to long cable runs.
Typical Charger Mix and Power Levels
AC charging (destination / longer dwell):
– 7.4 kW single-phase for basic visitor charging
– 11 kW three-phase for general retail dwell
– 22 kW AC for higher-turnover bays or premium locations
DC charging (shorter dwell / higher turnover):
– 50–75 kW for mid-speed public charging
– 100–200+ kW for high turnover and travel-like behavior, if grid capacity supports it
– Power sharing cabinets to serve multiple stalls efficiently
A common strategy is to deploy many AC bays for general shoppers and a few DC bays for those who want a quick top-up.
Pricing and Monetization Models
Retail-led approach:
– Free or discounted charging for customers (often time-limited)
– Receipt validation or loyalty-linked discounts
– Tenant-funded subsidies (anchor tenants sponsoring charging)
CPO-led approach:
– Standard public tariffs (per-kWh, sometimes plus per-minute)
– Membership plans and roaming access
– Idle fees to improve turnover
Hybrid:
– Low-cost AC for longer stays + premium-priced DC for fast turnover
– Peak/off-peak pricing to manage demand and energy costs
Key Site Design Considerations
– Grid capacity and reinforcement costs (often the biggest constraint for DC)
– Long cable runs and civils (ducts, trenching, pull pits)
– Traffic flow and safety (vehicle paths, bollards, visibility)
– Bay enforcement and parking management to avoid blocking
– Lighting and CCTV for user confidence and vandalism reduction
– Accessibility compliance (disabled bays and inclusive design)
– Remote monitoring and fast service response (retail sites are reputation-sensitive)
Benefits
– Increased footfall and dwell-driven retail sales uplift
– Higher site competitiveness and improved tenant satisfaction
– New revenue streams from charging and partnerships
– Scalable rollout path (start AC, add DC as demand and capacity grow)
– Supports sustainability goals and public perception
Limitations to Consider
– High demand periods can create queues without queue management
– DC chargers can trigger major grid reinforcement and long lead times
– Free charging can be abused without caps, access rules, or enforcement
– Reliability issues are highly visible and damage customer trust quickly
– Mixed stakeholder governance (landlord, tenants, CPO) can slow decisions
Related Glossary Terms
Destination Charging
Retail Dwell Monetization
Public Destination Charging
Queue Management
Load Management
Real-time Load Control
Reinforcement Costs
Dynamic Pricing
Idle Fees
Remote Monitoring