“This is historic!”: Ikea is now making you pay for this service that has always been free

© Unsplash/Jueun Song

The Swedish furniture giant has just ended a decade of generosity. Since January 1, 2025, charging stations for electric vehicles, previously free in Ikea store parking lots, have become chargeable. A change that marks the end of an era and that risks making some regulars grind their teeth.

Gone are the days when you could fill up your car with electricity for free while you filled your shopping cart with scented candles and furniture with unpronounceable names. This free service, introduced in 2013 when the first charging stations were installed, made Ikea a pioneer in electric mobility in retail. But times change, and equipment ages.

Faced with charging stations that had become obsolete (some no longer even work), Ikea had to resolve to completely overhaul its infrastructure. The brand turned to Izivia, a subsidiary of the EDF group, to orchestrate this modernization. The contract provides for the installation of at least 20 electrical terminals per store, but which is accompanied by a major change: the end of free service.

In addition to becoming chargeable, charging stations are becoming a real headache, with prices varying depending on the chosen mobility operator. Holders of the Izivia Pass, for example, are at a significant advantage since they avoid interoperability fees.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

More expensive on weekends

Most of the time, charging is billed per kilowatt consumed. But at Ikea, the people of Nice will be entitled to special treatment with billing based on charging time. As if all this wasn't complicated enough, a progressive increase applies after three hours of charging, and the rates double on weekends (coincidentally!). Finally, access to the terminals is limited to store opening hours, so there's no question of recharging your car during a night out.

Meanwhile, our German neighbours are rubbing their hands: their Ikea Family card offers them a 20% discount on the first 1,000 kilowatt hours charged. An initiative that has not yet crossed the Rhine, leaving French customers with a bill that risks making them forget the savings made on their furniture purchases.

This decision by Ikea, which reflects the gradual end of free services, only affects a part of the French population. However, at a time when consumers are being encouraged to turn more towards electric mobility, everything seems to be done to put them off. For Ikea, this historic change is a blot on its communication focused on low prices.

• Ikea's electric charging stations have become chargeable since January 1, 2025, after more than 10 years of being free
• A minimum of 20 stations per store will be installed and managed by Izivia (EDF group), with variable rates depending on the mobility operator
• The complex pricing system includes increases on weekends and after 3 hours of charging, with no loyalty program in France unlike in Germany

📍 To not miss any news from Presse-citron, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.