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Starbucks Partners with Volvo to Boost EV Charging Stations from Denver to Seattle

Starbucks customers traveling cross country from Denver to Seattle are now being offered an extra jolt — for electric vehicles.

Initiated in August of 2022, the coffee retailer has installed multiple electric vehicle charging stations at its locations along the route between its headquarters in Seattle and the Denver metro area, according to a press release from the company.

Projects like the installation of EV chargers are what Starbucks cites as an effort to become a resource-positive company and reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2030.

“Public EV charging should be as easy as getting a great cup of coffee — and now, it can be,” Michael Kobori, Starbucks chief sustainability officer, said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing this partnership with Volvo and ChargePoint, exploring new ways to enhance the Starbucks Experience and inviting customers on our journey to become a resource positive company.”

The coffee retailer has partnered with Volvo Cars and EV infrastructure company ChargePoint to install up to 60 DC fast chargers along the 1,350-mile route which includes legs along interstate highways I-90, I-84 and I-70, according to the release. So far, the project has funded charging stations in five Colorado cities including Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Silverthorne, Idaho Springs, and Broomfield.

“Partnerships like this are hugely important as we continue to move towards a more sustainable, electrified future,” Anders Gustafsson, senior vice president of the Americas Region and president and CEO of Volvo Car USA, said in the release. “Together with Starbucks and ChargePoint, we are creating an EV charging network that can fit seamlessly into everyday life. It’s a great compliment to Volvo Cars’ mission to give people the freedom to move in safe, sustainable and personal ways, and we look forward to the many ways we can make a positive impact together.”

A representative from Volvo told The Denver Gazette that the route was chosen due to its strategic use as a thoroughfare between Denver and the Pacific Northwest, but also one that has been lacking in electric charging infrastructure. The representative confirmed that all of the chargers built from the project partnership are currently operational as of Jan. 1.

According to information provided by ChargePoint and Volvo, ChargePoint’s DC fast chargers can bring the Volvo C40 Recharge electric SUV from a 20 percent to a 90 percent charge in about 40 minutes. They note, however, that charging times are dependent on factors such as outdoor temperature, current battery temperature, charging equipment, battery condition and car condition.

That same Volvo model is listed as having up to 297 miles of electric range, according to the manufacturer. In its stated goal, Starbucks said it intends to have chargers installed at up to 15 Starbucks stores, roughly every 100 miles along the Seattle to Denver route. Drivers of electric vehicles can find a ChargePoint charging station online by visiting the ChargePoint website or by downloading the ChargePoint app.

The Colorado Energy Office has outlined a goal of having 940,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and says that 14.5 percent of all new electric vehicle registrations in Colorado are electric vehicles. However, in its residential EV survey published last month, it revealed that consumer concerns still remain in regard to access and availability of charging, as well as purchasing costs. The office has offered several incentives to purchasers of electric vehicles, including a “cash for clunkers” incentive.