Earlier this week we wrote about farmer's markets luring more foot traffic to shopping centers, and we just learned about another tactic to do the same: car charging stations. That's the approach of Kimco Realty, which is placing one at he Linda Mar Shopping Center in Pacifica. Kimco partnered with NRG eVgo to bring such stations to 11 of its California shopping centers, with the first completed in September 2013 at the Westlake in Daly City (above, charging a Nissan Leaf). Usage so far has sped past expectations.

The Westlake station averages 18 charges a day, making it one of NRG eVgo’s most popular sites. Six more stations across the eco-friendly state are expected to be completed by the end of the year. Kimco VP of leasing and asset management for the Western Region David Jamieson says his company is continuing to evaluate new sites. Concentration to date has been on the West Coast, but he sees opportunity in several states, including along East Coast corridors where demand is on the rise.