Shelly Palmer - Starbucks and Mercedes-Benz Java Jolt Plus Volts

Would-be electric vehicle (EV) buyers generally say two things prevent them from making a purchase: one, range anxiety – the fear that an EV will run out of battery before reaching a charging station – and two, see number one. Everyone understands this. Charging an EV can take up to an hour, even with fast chargers.

Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks may have a solution: a java jolt plus volts! The companies have teamed up to install fast EV chargers at 100 Starbucks locations along Interstate 5 (which runs along the West Coast from Canada to Mexico). The initiative is part of Mercedes-Benz’s $1 billion plan to develop 2,000 EV charging hubs globally, with MN8 Energy covering 50% of the costs.

The first charging hub, featuring 400kW speeds by ChargePoint, opened in Atlanta last year. The deal is simple: Starbucks provides the space, Mercedes-Benz pays for everything else.

This isn't a new idea for Starbucks; the company did a similar 15-charger test with Volvo back in 2022. Other automakers, like Volkswagen and Tesla, are also placing chargers at popular retail locations. Will a Venti Matcha Latte quell my range anxiety? It won't help, but it couldn't hurt.

As always, your thoughts and comments are both welcome and encouraged. -s

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