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National broadband and network access provider Openreach (BT), which has already put 6,000 Electric Vehicles (EV) on UK roads to support their broadband and phone engineers, have today signed an agreement with Smart Charge, Sainsbury’s nationwide EV charging network, to provide its engineers with access to their “ultra-rapid charging hubs” in 80 locations across the country.
The operator, which manages the second-largest commercial vehicle fleet in the UK (c.23,000 vehicles), is currently aiming to upgrade the “vast majority” of their diesel-powered vans and cars to EVs by the end of March 2031 (supporting their Net Zero target for the same date).
The latest move makes it easier for Openreach’s telecoms engineers to keep their electric vans on the road, giving them access to 150kW rapid chargers and simple tap‑to‑pay pricing, including Nectar points on every charge, and 24/7 support.
The network operator has also now installed more than 3,500 home chargers for its engineers throughout the country, but one in three of their engineers are unable to install these at home and around half of their EV drivers rely primarily on public charging. This is where the deal with Sainsbury’s could come in handy.
Openreach has also previously built a partnership with First Bus, so engineers can charge their vans at First Bus depots, taking pressure off public charging points and making life easier for those who live in flats.
Judy O’Keefe, Director of Fleet at Openreach, said:
“Partnerships like this make a real difference. Switching a fleet of our size to electric is a big job, and it only works if day-to-day charging is simple for our engineers – the people who are out on the road every day keeping the country connected. Reducing emissions across the fleet also brings real benefits for local communities, with cleaner air and less noise in the towns and villages we serve.”
With this agreement, our engineers – particularly those who can’t install a home charger – have access to fast, reliable public charging at Sainsbury’s stores nationwide. They get competitive rates and earn Nectar points every time they plug in. It’s a simple, practical benefit that helps keep them moving and supports the high-quality service our customers expect.”
Openreach’s fleet is currently expected to reach 7,000 EVs by the end of March 2026 and they’ve so far also made a £3 million investment into related charging infrastructure.