Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks are joining forces to install fast electric vehicle chargers at over 100 Starbucks stores along Interstate 5, a major highway connecting Canada to Mexico on the West Coast.
The German automaker is investing $1 billion to build a network of 2,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs around the world. The first station, featuring a comfortable waiting area and ultra-fast 400kW charging speeds, opened in Atlanta last year.
Mercedes is poised to expand its charging network, prioritizing Starbucks locations along Interstate 5. In a joint statement, the companies revealed plans to explore further collaborations in key markets, including urban centers, underserved areas, and major travel routes.
Like many automakers facing slower-than-anticipated electric vehicle (EV) growth, Mercedes is adjusting its strategy. The company recently announced it will continue selling gas-powered vehicles beyond 2030, a change from its earlier plan to become fully electric by that date.
Electric vehicles (EVs) require a different approach to fueling compared to gasoline cars. Filling a gas tank typically takes less than five minutes, whereas recharging an EV battery can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the charger’s power and the battery’s size.
This is why Mercedes places its charging stations strategically at Starbucks locations. They recognize that EV drivers would likely prefer to relax and enjoy a coffee while they wait for their car to recharge, rather than simply sit idle in their vehicles.
Mercedes-Benz isn’t alone in exploring partnerships for EV charging. Volkswagen, through its EV charging company Electrify America, installs chargers at convenient locations like Walmart and Target parking lots. Similarly, Tesla planned a massive Supercharger station with a restaurant and movie theater in Santa Monica (construction hasn’t begun as of 2024).
