Are ALDI car chargers free?

OK so ALDI EV charging is free at a small number of locations via single-phase 7kW charge points but the pool of stores offering free charging is reducing rapidly.

The chargers are for ALDI customers only, so you shouldn’t pitch up and sit in your car to charge without heading inside to buy something. Some ALDI car parks are managed by third parties and have cameras, so follow the rules to avoid fines.

Your next question is going to be which locations have ALDI free EV charging, and my answer is, there is no list we can share. It’s pot luck!

Wish they’d label which stores have free charging on the website. Drove to three different locations before finding one. – David, Hyundai Kona Electric

While some ALDI car chargers are free, others have payable rates of 20-60 pence per kWh in 2026, so it really does pay to do your research.

You can use the ALDI store locator to find ALDI’s near you with EV charge points. Just enter your postcode, apply the EV charge point filter, and hit go. The tool will then return results of ALDI supermarkets nearby with EV chargers.

For example, a search in the WF9 postcode (that’s Wakefield FYI) returns 13 locations with car chargers within a 15-mile drive. Unfortunately, it doesn’t elaborate on charging fees, so you need to dig a little further to see if they are free.

Here’s how:

• Option one, contact the store and speak to the manager to find out the current charging rates and any limitations in place, such as a time limit.
• Option two, head over to Zap Map and do the following search: filter ‘Free to use’ under Payment, and ‘Supermarket’ under Location types. Alternatively, skip the ‘Free to use’ filter to see all supermarket locations.

Store manager was really helpful when I rang to check the charging setup. Saved me a wasted journey. – James, BMW i3

ALDI EV charging

As mentioned, the ALDI store locator is the best way to find ALDI EV charging near you. The table below shows its results for Leeds, London, Manchester, and Birmingham.

What chargers do ALDI use?

There are three main chargers at ALDI: Community by Shell Recharge, Pod Point, and Newmotion (blank chargers).

Most ALDI chargers use the Shell App and are branded as Community by Shell Recharge, and a small number of stores have Pod Point chargers.

Some ALDI chargers are made by Newmotion with blank branding – these are often free to use with a plug and play, cardless design.

These are all AC chargers, usually with a maximum 22kW charge rate.

Frustrated that there’s no consistency between stores. Each one seems to have different rules and networks. – Paul, Skoda Enyaq

Charging for free at ALDI – beware of the rules

ALDI like every other supermarket has rules for car charger usage. These rules typically stipulate a maximum charging duration (such as one hour) and a time slot for charging, such as between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Another stipulation might be being an ALDI shopper, i.e., you need to head inside the ALDI and buy something. You should also make sure you are not required to register with the charge point operator before charging at ALDI (this will probably be Pod Point or Shell Recharge at ALDI).

If you don’t follow the rules, you risk a fine.

Finding Aldi EV charging points near you

You need to know where your nearest Aldi store with charging facilities sits before you can use them. The Aldi website has a store locator that shows every location with charging points.

Enter your postcode and tick the EV charging filter. The map then displays all stores within range that offer charging.

Say you live in Leeds or Wakefield. Put in WF9 and the system returns 13 stores with chargers inside 15 miles. The locator won’t tell you about costs though. You need to check each location separately to find out if charging is free or paid.

How much Aldi EV charging actually costs

Aldi stores use three different charging networks and each one has its own pricing structure. Shell Recharge runs most Aldi charging points and charges between 20p and 40p per kWh.

Pod Point operates at selected stores with rates from 30p to 60p per kWh. Newmotion chargers appear at some locations and these often let you charge without paying anything.

Every charger at Aldi delivers AC power at 22kW maximum. This means you get a decent charging speed while you shop but not as fast as the rapid chargers you find at motorway service stations.

The 22kW rate adds about 60 to 80 miles of range per hour depending on your car battery and how much charge it already has.

Pro tip: Use our EV charging cost calculator to determine how much all your charging sessions will cost.

Which Aldi stores offer free EV charging

Finding free charging at Aldi takes some detective work because the store locator doesn’t show pricing. You have two ways to check before you drive there.

Ring the store directly and ask the manager about current charging rates and any time limits they enforce. Or use Zap Map with filters set to “free to use” under payment options and “supermarket” under location types.

Stores with Newmotion chargers give you the best chance of free charging. These have blank branding with no app required. You just plug in and charge.

Shell Recharge and Pod Point locations usually charge fees but some stores run promotions or offer free charging during quiet periods.

Setting up payment for Aldi EV charging

Most Aldi charging points need you to register with Shell Recharge or Pod Point before you can charge. Download the app for whichever network operates at your chosen store. Create an account and add your payment card.

When you arrive at the charger scan the QR code or tap your phone to start charging. The app tracks how much energy you use and bills your card automatically when you finish.

Some older charging points accept RFID cards instead of apps. You can order these cards through the network website. Keep one in your glovebox as backup because phone batteries die and apps crash.

Registration takes about five minutes and you only do it once. After that charging at any location on the same network works straight away.

Rules you must follow when charging at Aldi

Aldi restricts charging sessions to one to two hours maximum at most stores to ensure availability for other customers.

Someone left their car plugged in for four hours yesterday. Completely defeats the purpose of these bays. – Tom, Volkswagen ID.3

Time restrictions apply at some locations (typically 8am-4pm weekdays). Parking outside these hours may result in a fine.

You must be an Aldi customer. Charging bays are for shoppers only. Staff cross-reference vehicle registrations with purchase receipts and issue £70 fines (reduced to £40 if paid within 14 days) to non-customers.

Don’t overstay once charging completes, move your vehicle promptly to free the space for others. Set a phone reminder or enable app notifications to track your charging progress.