Mercedes-Benz to Equip Starbucks Stores with 400kW EV Chargers Along Key US Routes

A Mercedes-Benz subsidiary revealed a partnership with Starbucks to place 400kW EV chargers at more than 100 stores along Interstate 5, boosting EV accessibility.

Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks Bring High-Speed EV Charging to Coffee Lovers on the Go

On Wednesday, a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary announced a partnership with Starbucks to install fast-charging stations at over a hundred Starbucks stores in the US.

Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging reports that 400 kW EV chargers will be installed at Starbucks locations along Interstate 5, a west coast travel route that extends from Canada to Mexico, as part of the program's initial phase, Reuters shares.

The first charging station was launched by the Mercedes unit in 2023, following an initial investment of $1 billion.

Dozens of charging stations have opened up across the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky since the network's inauguration.

Expanding EV Infrastructure With Coffee Breaks: Mercedes-Benz's Strategic Move

Within the next twelve to eighteen months, the network is set to grow to cover around half of the nation's states. By the end of the decade, it is anticipated that the network will encompass approximately 10,000 charging sites in key markets such as the US, Europe, and China.

The Verge elaborates that electric vehicle charging is very different from petrol station fillups. Depending on the charger's power output and the size of the electric vehicle's battery, recharging the battery might take up to an hour, but filling up a gas tank can take less than five minutes.

Charging EVs and Sipping Lattes: The Future of Electric Vehicle Charging

Mercedes is charging its vehicles at Starbucks for that very reason. It's a subtle way of saying that electric vehicle owners would prefer to sit at a coffee shop with a latte and relax than wait for their batteries to charge in their garages.

A number of car companies have approached Starbucks about partnering with them to charge electric vehicles, such Mercedes. The coffee behemoth announced in 2022, in conjunction with Volvo, the planned placement of fifteen stations along highways between Seattle and Denver.