Sainsbury’s has brought in new parking rules at its supermarkets that make some changes which shoppers should be aware of in case they drive electric vehicles. The change is part of the supermarket’s efforts toward a much more organized and fair parking experience.

Whenever one goes to Sainsbury’s to get their grocery, there are usually some rules regarding parking. For example, time limits on parking or only customers being allowed to use the parking spaces. Sainsbury’s just added more, especially for the drivers of EVs, and with some benefits that might be quite exciting.

One of the biggest changes is to prevent something called ‘ghost charging’. That’s where EV drivers park in a charging spot but do not charge their vehicle, just to get a parking space. According to Sainsbury’s, above half of electric vehicle drivers admit having done this to make their shopping trips easier.

To overcome this situation, Sainsbury’s has introduced a reward scheme. Now, if you park your EV and use the charging points, you can earn Nectar points. This is the first time that a supermarket has announced such a benefit. Sainsbury’s Smart Charge customer director Trish Devin said: “Customers can now also reap the benefit of collecting Nectar points while charging.”. Not to mention the added advantage that one can pop into a Sainsbury’s store while waiting for their vehicle to charge and pick up some groceries.

The change forms part of the attempt to try and promote better behavior among drivers of electric vehicles. Actually, in research done by Sainsbury’s, 70% of drivers of electric vehicles confessed that better etiquette should be exercised in terms of charging their cars. Research indicated that this problem is particularly rampant in cities like Cardiff, Birmingham, and Belfast, where almost 90% were irritated by others not abiding by the rules.

Some of the biggest problems drivers reported included people hogging plugs, long wait times, bad parking, and ‘cable spaghetti’ – which is when drivers drag the charging cable onto the wrong side of the car, creating a tangled mess.

To help out with these issues, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge has teamed up with etiquette coach William Hanson to share some unofficial parking rules on how to make the process easier and more efficient for all.

For example, always ensure that you are parked properly and not obstructing others from using the charging points. If you are queuing for a charging spot, then just wait and be nice to other drivers. Avoid ‘cable spaghetti’ by ensuring the cable is on the correct side of your car. And most importantly, only park in a charging spot if you actually need to charge your vehicle.

The simple rules, when followed, should provide a much-improved parking experience for every shopper visiting Sainsbury’s. And with the added incentive of earning Nectar points, EV drivers have all the more reason to abide by the new guidelines.

The next time you drive to Sainsbury’s for your groceries, remember these new rules and enjoy all the benefits that come with being a responsible EV driver. By doing this, you won’t be making just your shopping trip smoother; you will be earning rewards for doing something right. Happy shopping and happy charging!