- volvo and starbucks are adding chargepoint dc fast chargers along a 1350-mile route from seattle to denver.
- the network of chargers will be available to all electric and plug-in-hybrid vehicle drivers, but volvo models benefit from either a discounted rate or free use of the chargers.
- look for the charging route to be fully online by the end of the year.
starbucks is no longer catering solely to people looking for a quick recharge. now the coffeehouse chain is working with volvo to ensure plug-in-hybrid and battery-electric vehicles are able to nab a recharge at a number of its locations.
don't get too excited, though. while starbucks seemingly has a store at every other corner of most major metropolitan areas, the company only intends to fit up to 60 chargepoint dc fast chargers at as many as 15 of its stores along a route that extends from seattle, washington, to denver, colorado. that’s less than 0.1 percent of the number of coffee shops starbucks operates in the united states, according to the data company scrapehero.
still, if all goes according to plan, then these chargers are due to pop up approximately 100 miles from one another, ensuring ev drivers never need to worry about running out of charge while journeying from the home of starbucks to the mile-high city and back.
although volvo's branding may grace the fast chargers dotting the approximately 1350-mile route, the swedish automaker intends to let all phev and ev drivers plug in for a charge. that said, owners of volvo's plug-in-hybrid (s60, s90; v60, v90; xc60, xc90) and electric (xc40 and c40) recharge models will get to use these chargers for a lower fee, or even for free. look for the installation of these chargers to be completed by the end of 2022.
we hope this signals the start of a larger network of starbucks-based chargepoint dc fast chargers throughout the country, too, because there are few better ways to kill the time it takes to fast-charge a phev or ev than at a place with free wi-fi and good—or at least acceptable—coffee. that sure beats killing time inside your vehicle as it charges in an empty parking lot.