Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks have unveiled a new collaboration to install fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers at 100 Starbucks locations along Interstate 5, a major corridor stretching from Canada to Mexico. This initiative is a key component of Mercedes-Benz’s $1 billion strategy to deploy 2,000 new EV charging hubs globally.
The venture will build on the success of the first station, which opened in Atlanta last year and features a premium waiting area along with 400kW charging speeds provided by ChargePoint. The latest phase will concentrate on placing these chargers at Starbucks locations along I-5, with plans to extend this network to crucial urban centers, underserved areas, and significant travel routes.
While Starbucks will offer space for the charging infrastructure in its parking lots, it will not be responsible for the installation expenses. Instead, Mercedes-Benz is collaborating with MN8 Energy, a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, which will contribute 50 percent of the project’s funding.
This partnership emerges at a time when many automakers are reevaluating their electric vehicle strategies due to slower market adoption. Despite this, Mercedes-Benz is steadfast in its commitment to expanding its EV infrastructure while continuing to offer gasoline-powered vehicles beyond 2030.
One of the main hurdles in establishing new charging stations is finding real estate partners willing to provide space for essential equipment, such as transformers and load centers. Unlike the quick turnaround of gasoline refills, EV charging can take up to an hour, making Starbucks an ideal location where customers can enjoy a coffee while they wait.
The trend of integrating EV chargers with popular retail locations is gaining traction. Volkswagen, through its subsidiary Electrify America, has installed chargers in Walmart and Target parking lots, while Tesla has planned a large Supercharger station with a restaurant and theater in Santa Monica, although construction has yet to begin.
In 2022, Starbucks partnered with Volvo to install 15 charging stations along highways between Seattle and Denver, underscoring the increasing trend among automakers to enhance EV infrastructure through strategic partnerships with major retail chains.
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