Starbucks is collaborating with Mercedes-Benz to bring the carmaker’s High-Power Charging stations to more than 100 coffee shops across the U.S.
The first phase of the partnership includes co-located 400 kW electric vehicle (EV) chargers at Starbucks stores located along Interstate 5 — a critical West Coast travel corridor reaching from Canada to Mexico. From there the partners plan to identify additional opportunities for charger placements in key markets, including core urban areas, charging deserts and other critical travel corridors.
The partnership with Mercedes follows a similar partnership with Volvo that opened EV charging stations at Starbucks locations along the route from Denver to Seattle in late 2023. Through these and other partnerships, U.S. customers now have access to EV charging at or nearby more than 1,000 Starbucks locations across the country.
“At Starbucks, we have a long history of bringing renewable and clean energy projects to connect communities that lack this infrastructure,” said Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ Chief Sustainability Officer in a statement. “Partnering with Mercedes is the next step in expanding our EV charging network so our customers can refuel sustainably while they enjoy Starbucks.”
Advertisement
Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging is a public charging network open to all vehicle brands. The company’s inaugural site opened in November 2023 as part of an initial $1 billion investment and has since expanded to a dozen locations across Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky. The network is expected to expand to nearly half of U.S. states over the next 12 to 18 months.
“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 in a statement. “Together, we seek to infuse delight into this facet of EV ownership through intentional experiences that make drivers genuinely excited to plug in. We envision a future where charging your vehicle is as easy as enjoying your favorite Starbucks.”
A growing roster of retail operators are turning their locations into destinations for drivers in need of a charge, as EVs become more widely available across the country and the U.S. government pushes for the buildout of a national charging network. Other retailers that have announced plans to incorporate EV charging on site including Simon malls, 7-Eleven, Walmart/Sam’s Club, Kroger and Pilot Flying J.
