Coffee and charging: Volvo begins installation of EV chargers at select Starbucks branches in US

MANILA: Volvo Cars and Starbucks Corporation announced the first Starbucks branches in the US where new electric vehicle (EV) chargers, powered by ChargePoint, will be available to customers and the public.

Four chargers have been installed at the Starbucks branch in Provo, Utah. They will be operational later this month. It will signify the beginning of a pilot project to electrify a major thoroughfare that offers EV travel between four key markets, including Seattle, Boise, Salt Lake City, and Denver.

In order to give EV drivers the freedom to travel, Starbucks and Volvo are installing up to 60 DC fast chargers at up to 15 Starbucks branches along a 1,350-mile route between the Colorado Front Range and the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle. These locations will be convenient places for EV drivers to recharge both their vehicles and themselves.

This scenic route, which was previously under-resourced to facilitate EV charging, passes close to six national forests and gives zero-emission EV drivers access to some of the most famous sites in the US. The route connects outdoor tourist destinations like Park City and Vail while covering the Snoqualmie Pass in Washington, the Snake River in Idaho, the Arches National Park in Utah, and more.

By the end of the year, there will be charging stations at Starbucks branches roughly every 100 miles along the route, well within the range of almost every EV. This will provide much-needed infrastructure for both current EV owners and those who consider purchasing an EV. Customers can unwind inside with their favorite Starbucks drink while their vehicles are charging outside.

In a statement, Volvo Cars Senior Vice President for Americas Region and Volvo Car President and CEO Anders Gustafsson said, “Partnerships like this are hugely important as we continue to move towards a more sustainable, electrified future. 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,” Starbucks Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Kobori stated. “We look forward to continuing this partnership with Volvo and ChargePoint, exploring new ways to enhance the Starbucks Experience and inviting customers on our journey to become a resource positive company.”

“With Volvo and Starbucks, we’re creating a premium EV driving experience between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest with Starbucks and Volvo Cars,” ChargePoint Chief Executive Officer Pasquale Romano said. “Through our partnership, EV drivers will have the opportunity to quickly fuel their vehicles at Starbucks locations along one of America’s most scenic byways.”

The Volvo C40 Recharge can be charged from 20% to 90% in around 40 minutes using ChargePoint's DC fast chargers. While others can use the ChargePoint smartphone app to locate and access the ChargePoint charging stations at select Starbucks branches, drivers of Volvo Recharge models with Google installed can use the ChargePoint app integrated into their vehicle's in-dash system.

The other Starbucks branches where EV chargers will be installed are located in Seattle, Washington; Issaquah, Washington; Yakima, Washington; Hermiston, Oregon; La Grande, Oregon; Nampa, Idaho; Twin Falls, Idaho; Uintah, Idaho; Sandy, Utah; Grand Junction, Colorado; Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Silverthorne, Colorado; Idaho Springs, Colorado; and Broomfield, Colorado.

Volvo drivers will benefit from having access to these charging stations for free or at favorable rates, while drivers of any EV equipped with a standard CCS1 or CHAdeMO receptacle will be able to use these stations for a fee.

Starbucks is reinventing the store experience for more connection, convenience, and planet-positive impact, much like Volvo Cars wants to be a 100% electric vehicle manufacturer by 2030. In support of its global target to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030 and its goal to become a resource-positive business, the company continues to rapidly expand its renewable energy and decarbonization projects in the US.

Photos from Volvo Cars

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