Walgreens planning to offer EV charging nationwide

[Mycroft]

One of the first retailers to wake up and smell some coffee. Where art thou Walmart, Dennys, etc?

Press release: Walgreens Expects to Become Nation’s Largest Retail Host of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Walgreens plans to offer electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at approximately 800 locations across the country by the end of the year, making it the nation’s largest retail host. ... The charging stations will feature either a high-speed direct current (DC) charger that can add 30 miles of range in as little as 10 minutes of charging time, or a Level 2 charger that can add up to 25 miles of range per hour of charge.

Great news! With the success of the Leaf, this just may get the ball rolling!

 

[mpt]

Fantastic; this is the start of retailers differentiating themselves by their EV offering. If this truly is DC fast charging then we're really off to the races.

 

[doug]

Hmm.. that's interesting. Whenever I go to a Walgreens, I don't think I spend more than 10 minutes there.

 

[mpt]

Exactly!

 

[TEG]

Try waiting in line for a prescription during flu season. Sometimes I got stuck there for an hour or so.

 

[bonnie]

I don't spend more than a few minutes there, either - but I do park and hit multiple stores - so this will still be convenient. And it's one more place to find a charge when traveling.

Thanks, Walgreens!

 

[edo]

range confidence

I like the sound of that. Feels like the title line for a magazine ad for Tesla

 

[doug]

There do tend to be more interesting stores around Walgreens. Maybe they will have you purchase something in the store to validate your parking/charge and help drive business.

 

[TEG]

I didn't repost it because Blink has been delivering more press releases than substance, but they did announce a partnership to put charging spots at some Ikea stores.
Each and every deal is nice as it starts paving the way towards ubiquitous charging while shopping someday.

 

[dsm363]

One of the first retailers to wake up and smell some coffee. Where art thou Walmart, Dennys, etc?

This is great news. Thanks.
I would have thought someone like Starbucks would have stepped up. Would rather spend a few hours there than a Walgreens but as was mentioned, there are usually other stores with something to do near a Walgreens. Still, great news. Maybe others with catch on too.

If the Model S goes with whatever the J1772 version of fast charging will be, then their fast chargers may not work but having access to level 2 chargers is still good.

 

[smorgasbord]

What would be really useful is for movie theaters have chargers. Anyone know anyone at any of the big theater chains?

 

[TEG]

This story is getting picked up a bunch of places today.

Here is one recap:
Walgreens to Install EV Charging Stations at 800 Stores | Business | GreenBiz.com

From what I can tell, they are working with 'partner' companies to run the infrastructure. I suspect that these may not be free/public charging spots, but rather pay stations.

Electric Cars, Chargers and InfrastructureInstalling electric car charging infrustructure
Car Charging | Ev Charging Stations |

 

[vfx]

The CEO of FedEx is always talking about how great EVs are (talking about their trucks). I'm all over them to put plugs at the thousand of FedEx Kinkos sites.

Good on Walgreens though!

 

[Mycroft]

My only peeve is that, for marketing and convenience to power, all of the charging spaces are likely to be placed at the front of the store, probably next to the handicapped parking. Very bad. Unlike in the handicapped parking, lazy boneses know they won't get ticketed in the charging spots.

 

[tdelta1000]

Corporate America is beginning to understand the importance of EVs.

 

[mpt]

Corporate America is beginning to understand the importance of EVs.

...The opportunity of EV's

 

[TEG]

I suspect that these may not be free/public charging spots, but rather pay stations...

Questionable Pricing for Walgreens Electric Car Charging | PluginCars.com

 

[dmckinstry]

Questionable Pricing for Walgreens Electric Car Charging | PluginCars.com

Well, if it's a high voltage fast charger, $4.00 an hour is cheap. A Tesla could add up to 160 miles (or more depending on charging current) to its range in that time. How many gas guzzlers can get 100 to 150 miles on $4.00 worth of gas?

 

[vfx]

Whatever the market will bear. This is a sunglasses markup.

 

[TEG]

My Nissan Leaf Forum View topic - Walgreens Installing 800 Charge Stations before 2012

Today's S.F. Chronicle has an article about Walgreens installations in the Bay Area. These are scheduled to open next week:

-- 1333 Castro St., San Francisco.

-- 3001 Taraval St., San Francisco.

-- 191 E. Third Ave., San Mateo.

-- 4070 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo.

-- 2799 S. White Road, San Jose.

-- 780 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/BUSD1LK72I.DTL