Why QSR Brands Are Investing in Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The first “electrified” Taco Bell franchise restaurant opened in San Francisco in partnership with electric vehicle fast-charging station brand ChargeNet Stations.

“As the popularity of electric cars grows, especially in California, we are excited to offer our customers in the Golden State this service. They can quickly charge their vehicles and fuel themselves with our Mexican-inspired fan favorites at the same time,” said SG Ellison, president of Diversified Restaurant Group, which operates the location. 

Six of ChargeNet’s chargers will sit underneath a solar array, which will cover 10 spots total. For about $20, users can get a 100+ mile charge in 20 minutes or less.

About 120 California Taco Bell restaurants owned by Diversified are expected to add EV charging stations in the coming months, Insider reported. The announcement came just after the California Air Resources Board said it would require all new vehicles sold in the state to be electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by 2023. 

The startup plans to carve a niche for itself in fast-food restaurants, according to ChargeNet CEO Tosh Dutt. Dutt noted that the reason it made sense for them to put fast-charging stations in fast-food parking lots is that they’re frequently found on major highways and roads in the United States and serve millions of people a year. 

“There’s no secret that there’s a disproportionate amount of quick-serve restaurants in low-income communities and rural areas,” he told Insider. “Being able to host at these locations, we’re able to democratize public EV charging.”

Swedish furniture franchise IKEA is also partnering with EV infrastructure firm Electrify America to make charging stations more accessible, New York Post reported. The retailer will install charging stations at 25 stores across 18 states.

Meanwhile, corporate-owned coffee chain Starbucks is partnering with Volvo for its own initiative. According to Michael Kobori, Starbucks’ chief sustainability officer, the partnership is intended to make EV charging “as easy as getting a great cup of coffee.”

15 Starbucks locations will install 60 fast chargers along a 1,350-mile route connecting Denver to Seattle by the end of the year.