There aren’t many places outside of my house or sports facility that I’d want to hang out for an hour+. Cafes, however, meet the requirements. I can relax, enjoy a coffee and work comfortably in a coffee shop. If I had a slightly more normal job, I could just relax and drink coffee. In any case, coffee shops are exactly the kind of places that are ideal hotspots for electric vehicle chargers. Starbucks knows this, and apparently so does Volvo Cars.
We wrote about the Volvo Cars–Starbucks–ChargePoint collaboration back in March, but the corporate visionaries are back in the news thanks to Volvo Cars and Starbucks finalizing the locations of the 60 EV (DC) fast chargers they plan to bring to market. They will be in up to 15 Starbucks locations along a 1,350-mile route.
The first two Starbucks stores to receive these EV chargers will be in Provo, Utah, and Grand Junction, Colorado. (If you get a chance, Provo is also known for its great stand-up comedy shows in Dry bar comedy.) At the Provo location (East Bay — University & 9th, 979 S University Ave.), 4 of these EV fast chargers are already installed. They will be operational by the end of August.
Other cities that will be home to ChargePoint DC fast chargers in Starbucks stores include Seattle, Boise, Salt Lake City and Denver. And then there’s the desert. “From Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass, spanning Idaho’s Snake River, spanning Utah’s Arches National Park and connecting outdoor destinations like Park City and Vail, the route represents American travel at its best.”
Volvo Cars–Starbucks–ChargePoint card.
When the chargers are installed along the route, by the end of this year there is expected to be one ChargePoint fast charger every 100 miles.
“Partnerships like this are extremely important as we continue to move toward a more sustainable, electrified future,” said Anders Gustafsson, senior vice president of the Americas region and president and CEO of Volvo Car USA. “Together with Starbucks and ChargePoint, we are creating an EV charging network that can fit seamlessly into everyday life. It’s a great compliment to Volvo Cars’ mission to give people the freedom to move in safe, sustainable and personal ways, and we look forward to the many ways we can make a positive impact together.”
“Public EV charging should be as easy as getting a great cup of coffee — and now it can be,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer. “We look forward to continuing this partnership with Volvo and ChargePoint as we explore new ways to enhance the Starbucks experience and invite customers on our journey to become a resource-driven company.”
“With Volvo and Starbucks, we’re creating a premium EV driving experience between the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest with Starbucks and Volvo Cars,” said Pasquale Romano, CEO of ChargePoint. “Through our partnership, EV drivers will be able to quickly charge their vehicles at Starbucks locations along some of America’s most scenic drives.”
Volvo Cars–Starbucks–ChargePoint charger.
Other cities getting these EV fast chargers at Starbucks include:
- Seattle, Washington
- Issaquah, Washington
- Yakima, Washington
- Hermiston, Oregon
- La Grande, Oregon
- Nampa, ID
- Twin Falls, ID
- Uinta, ID
- Sandy, Utah
- Provo, Utah
- Grand Junction, Colorado
- Glenwood Springs, CO
- Silverthorne, Colorado
- Idaho Springs, Colorado
- Broomfield, Colorado
If you’ve come this far and still don’t fully understand Volvo Cars’ role in this, don’t worry, it’s not clear. However, it’s really simple. Volvo Cars drivers using these charging stations will be able to charge for free. That sounds pretty good.
All images courtesy of Volvo Cars.
Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality and cleantech news coverage? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter, technician or ambassador — or patron of Patreon.
Don’t want to miss a cleantech story? Sign up for daily news from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!
Got a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to pitch a guest on our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.