Starbucks is looking to broaden its reputation as a purveyor of energy by becoming a hub of charging stations for electric vehicles.
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The company has linked up with Volvo and ChargePoint to launch a pilot program that will add EV chargers to as many as 15 locations between Denver and Seattle, according to Fast Company. The chargers will be available about every 100 miles on the 1,350-mile stretch.
“It’s one of those charging deserts, so to speak,” Michael Kobori, chief sustainability officer at Starbucks, said in an interview with Fast Company. “There aren’t too many charging stations available there.”
Starbucks is among a handful of public and private entities at the forefront of addressing the growing need for EV charging stations. The International Council on Clean Transportation predicts there could be 26 million electric cars in the U.S. by 2030, which would mean adding another 2.2 million chargers to public and workplace locations.
Last fall, General Motors announced plans to add 40,000 charging stations to the U.S. and Canada. The Biden administration’s $1T infrastructure plan also includes $5B in funding for states to build more EV charging stations.
These announcements come as the cost of gas in the U.S. surges to record heights following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to AAA, the average price of a regular gallon hit $4.33 on March 11.
An expansion of Starbucks’ pilot program will ultimately rest on usage rates. The time it takes to charge an electric vehicle varies based on several factors but typically takes around 30 minutes, according to Kia. Starbucks hopes its unique offering will help convince visitors that time is well spent.
“This is pairing the idea of electric vehicle charging with the fact that, hey, if you’re on a trip, you’re gonna stop in the morning anyway to get your Starbucks, to get your beverage, to get your breakfast,” Kobori said to Fast Company. “And as you’re sitting there, getting ready for the day and planning out your route and checking out, your car is just charging.”
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