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Episode 139: Liz Allan and Richard Hackforth-Jones - Sainsbury’s Smart Charge Vision for Net Zero and Customer Excellence.
Liz Allan speaks to Richard Hackforth-Jones, Product and Operations Director at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, to explore how one of the UK’s biggest retail giants is revolutionising the EV charging landscape. Richard shares Smart Charge's incredible growth journey, from launching its first site in July 2023 to rapidly scaling to over 75 sites and 615 ultra-rapid charging bays in less than a year. More than just numbers, Richard dives into Sainsbury’s customer-first approach, using its retail expertise, existing property assets, and Nectar loyalty scheme to make EV charging both accessible and rewarding for drivers. He explains how their ability to use existing grid connections and relentless focus on process improvement make Smart Charge a stand-out player in the industry. 

Richard Hackforth-Jones Bio:
Richard Hackforth-Jones is the Product and Operations Director at Sainsbury’s Smart Charge, leading the charge (quite literally) on scaling one of the UK’s fastest-growing EV charging networks. With a background spanning tech consultancy, product management, and e-mobility strategy, Richard brings a unique blend of technical know-how and strategic insight to the EV space. Passionate about simplifying the EV driver experience, Richard is driving Smart Charge’s mission to deliver ultra-rapid, accessible, and customer-friendly charging at Sainsbury’s nationwide, while supporting the retailer’s broader net-zero goals. 

Quote of the Episode:
"We have a duty, as an industry, to make it easy to onboard those customers into this new behaviour of public charging. If we don’t, we risk leaving people behind.”  Richard Hackforth-Jones, Sainsbury’s Smart Charge 

Richard Hackforth-Jones Links:
Website: https://smartcharge.co.uk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-drake-hackforth-jones

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