Starbucks has teamed with Mercedes-Benz to bring electric vehicle (EV) charging to its stores.
The collaboration with Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging, announced Wednesday (July 17), will place chargers at more than 100 Starbucks stores across the country, starting along Interstate 5, “a critical west coast travel corridor,” Starbucks said in a news release.
The companies say the chargers will be placed in “core urban areas and charging deserts,” with more locations to be identified, including areas along the East Coast.
According to the release, Starbucks along the I-5 route will feature the Alpitronic Hypercharger 400, which comes with NACS cables and can support vehicles with a wide voltage range.
“The collaboration between two leading brands like Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks will uplift the charging experience for all EV drivers,” said Andrew Cornelia, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging. “We envision a future where charging your vehicle is as easy as enjoying your favorite Starbucks.”
In fact, the release said, one of the goals of the partnership is to integrate the charging experience with “the familiar and easy routine of grabbing a coffee,” and make it available to drivers of all brands of electric vehicles.
The partnership is happening as retailers are increasing their efforts to attract EV drivers. As PYMNTS wrote last week, malls around the world are adding charging stations to woo the high-income shoppers who own them and convince them to spend more time on site.
Simon Property Group, the largest mall owner and developer in the U.S., is teaming with BP Pulse to roll out ultra-fast EV charging stations at 75 of its shopping centers, with plans to install more than 900 ultra-fast charging bays beginning in early 2026.
“The initiative is a clear nod to the increasing number of affluent consumers who are shifting toward electric vehicles,” PYMNTS wrote.
EV owners, typically living in higher income areas, present a lucrative market for retailers and service providers. As EV adoption increases, the availability of ultra-fast charging stations could become a major factor in determining where these high-value consumers shop.
“The EV early adopter profiles are a company’s dream: established, affluent, college-educated people (mostly men) living in the largest car markets in the country: California, Texas, Florida, and New York,” PYMNTS’ Karen Webster wrote in a feature last year.
