Carolyn Cummins
9 June, 2017
The Age
When visiting a Stockland shopping centre, customers will soon be able to not only say, “charge it”, when making a purchase, but can also to keep their electric car fully firing.
Tesla deliveries zoom to record
The luxury electric car maker delivered 69 per cent more vehicles in the first quarter than a year ago.
Under a deal with the electric car manufacturer Tesla, Stockland is investing $200,000 in a national roll out of Tesla Destination Chargers across 31 shopping centres from Cairns to Melbourne.
The owners of the cars can access the power points for free and stay as long as they wish in the centre.
It reflects the ongoing innovations being offered by mall landlords to entice shoppers and increase the “dwell” time at a mall. It is the shifting nature of a shopping centre into being the town centre for a local community. It is not just shops that people want, but also entertainment and a range of convenient features.
The move also reflects the increased focus by consumers on sustainability and their desire to patronise green rated properties.
Other retail mall owners are rolling out similar programs, with GPT Group also offering chargers for electric cars at its Rouse Hill town centre, and Wollongong Central, NSW.
While Vicinity Centres has also installed chargers at Chadstone in Melbourne.
Stockland chief executive commercial John Schroder said that in the ever changing retail landscape, technology is increasingly critical to drive innovation, efficiency and engagement with our customers.
“Just one hour connected to a Tesla Destination Charger provides up to 110 kilometres of range.
“We know EV vehicles are part of the future and we look forward to offering more features like this to meet continuing Australian demand.”
And with the move by Tesla to deliver its first cheaper Model 3 electric saloons, there will be more demand for chargers across all shopping centres and in the future, offices, hotels and residential towers.
Stockland will install the chargers in centres ranging from Cairns to Balgowlah, Cammeray and Green Hills, in NSW and the The Pines, Traralgon in country Victoria.
Mr Schroder said the Tesla Destination Charger rollout complements Stockland’s 17 free charge point facilities in 10 locations throughout Australia, which have been used more than 2000 times by customers since 2015.
The initiative was part of Stockland’s broader focus on innovation, which included the pioneering use of social robotics in retail environments.
“Our customers continue to demonstrate their desire for more innovative in-centre features, tech-integrated amenity and sustainability led initiatives to enhance their everyday shopping experience. It is integral that Australian shopping centres continue to evolve and adapt to retailer, customer and global demands,” he said.
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