MN8 Energy’s Post

I'm a coffee and cars kind of person, so this is a great announcement from two awesome companies. However, from my perspective, I'm wondering about the due diligence that needs to be done beyond the fabulous announcement. I have no idea what Starbucks and Mercedes did, or didn't do. However, if you're planning a project like this one here are just a few things to be thinking about: Do most people hang around those Starbucks locations for hours at a time or do they order and go? If those customers want to be in/out in minutes will they bother to spend the extra time to charge up? If they do hang around for hours have you figured out how to incentivize the EV customers to leave the charging spot when they're done charging so someone else can use it? Is an idle fee enough? If it's a busy location, and tough to park, an idle fee may not be enough... What cost does that EV charge add to the cost of that quick cup of coffee? Who can use the chargers? Anyone? Only Starbucks customers? Mercedes drivers only? How tightly have Starbucks and Mercedes matched the use case to the type of infrastructure they are planning to install on a site by site basis? In a place like Manhattan, the Starbucks across the street or down the block might serve a completely different market and customer. I would imagine 100 locations across 1400 miles are going to be just as similar and different. Are Starbucks and Mercedes expecting to make money from the charging? Or they just offering the convenience? Do they have the necessary power capacity at each location? Backups? Power storage? Do they have the easements they will inevitably need for utilities and access? Have they looked at a title report? Have the done a site survey to make sure the equipment is going in the right place and on the correct property? Have they entered into their contracts with the right parties? Made sure the people signing those contracts have the authority do so? Who is handling maintenance? Repairs? What happens if the responsible party doesn’t do what it’s supposed to? Have you disincentivized bad behavior? Incentivized good behavior? Who do customers call if they have an issue? A Starbucks problem? Mercedes problem? Is it totally unclear or not covered? How will that affect the customer experience and the reputations of Starbucks and Mercedes Benz? Are there state/federal/tax incentives? Who gets the benefits? How are you going to handle on your tax returns? These projects require due diligence, business structuring, lots of planning, good contracts, tax reviews, involvement of your accountant, lawyer, finance advisor, etc., etc. EV charging infrastructure deployment projects are not a simple, "Hey. Let's put in some EV chargers and run with it".

🚗⚡️ Imagine driving your EV and never worrying about a dead battery while craving a coffee! ☕️🔋 Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks are teaming up to install EV chargers at 100 locations along Interstate-5! Exciting, right? 👏 #Innovation #GreenEnergy #Travel 🌟 Summary: Starbucks and Mercedes-Benz are revolutionizing road trips for EV owners. Their partnership kicks off with the installation of high-speed chargers at key Starbucks locations along I-5, ensuring travelers can charge their vehicles and enjoy a coffee break simultaneously. 🛣️🏞️ 💡 Insights: For business travelers and daily commuters, this move highlights the growing importance of sustainable mobility solutions and convenience. Companies should note potential benefits in adopting similar green initiatives, enhancing customer experience while promoting sustainability. 🌍💼 🗨️ Questions: Do you think partnerships like this could become the norm for businesses aiming for sustainability? Would you choose a coffee shop based on the availability of EV charginers? 👍 or 👎 - Share your thoughts below or share this post with someone who’d love this new combo of coffee and charging! #Sustainability #BusinessInnovation #Starbucks #MercedesBenz #EVcharging

☕ 🚗 Caffeine meets Cars: Mercedes-Benz AG and Starbucks Plug into America's EV Future Luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz and coffee giant Starbucks are teaming up to create a network of high-powered EV charging stations across America. The partnership will install high-power 400 kW chargers at over 100 Starbucks locations nationwide. This collaboration aims to make EV charging as convenient as grabbing a coffee. Drivers can now recharge their vehicles while enjoying Starbucks coffee, potentially accelerating EV adoption in the U.S. The initiative combines Mercedes' charging technology with Starbucks' widespread presence. It's set to transform the American road trip experience, one charge – and one coffee – at a time. Buckle up, America. The future of driving is looking positively electrifying—and caffeinated ☕ . #energy #news #EV #Starbucks #Mercedes #Business #Electrifying #energytoday

Combining EV charging with a shopping/coffee break. #ev #mercedes #starbucks #electricvehicles #Volvo #bucees #ucf #fastcompany In the near future, EV drivers taking a road trip down Interstate-5, which runs from the top of Washington all the way through Southern California, will be able to charge up their vehicles while they stop at a Starbucks. The coffee chain is partnering with Mercedes-Benz to install its fast chargers at 100 Starbucks stores across the country, beginning along I-5, one of the busiest corridors in the country. This isn’t Starbucks’s first foray into EV charging. There are 50 fast chargers at 15 Starbucks locations on the route between Seattle and Denver, as part of a partnership with Volvo and Chargepoint. Now, the collaboration with Mercedes-Benz expands the coffee chain’s aim to become the gas station of the future for EVs—and helps the car company with its own plans to build out its High-Power Charging network. The Mercedes-Benz EV chargers are all 400 kW, which can get certain vehicles from a 10% to 80% charge in less than 20 minutes. (The speed at which an EV can charge varies based on its hardware, environmental factors like temperature, and more.) Currently, there are 13 Mercedes-Benz charging locations with 100 charging ports across the southeast, as part of a partnership with Buc-ee’s; it expects to have charging hubs at 30 Buc-ee’s locations by the end of 2024. The car company aims to have more than 2,500 of its high-powered chargers in 400 hubs by 2027. https://lnkd.in/eyirxhWm

A groundbreaking partnership between Mercedes-Benz AG and Starbucks, aiming to establish EV fast-charging hubs at 100 Starbucks stores across the United States. 👇 This collaboration is set to revolutionize the EV charging experience for Mercedes-Benz owners while promoting sustainable practices. 🔋 Strategic Charging Locations: Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks are strategically placing fast-charging hubs at 100 Starbucks locations, ensuring that EV drivers have convenient access to charging facilities along major routes and in key urban areas. This initiative is designed to support long road trips and daily commutes, making electric vehicle ownership more practical and enjoyable. ⚡ State-of-the-Art Fast-Charging: The partnership will see the deployment of cutting-edge fast-charging technology from Mercedes-Benz, enabling EVs to recharge quickly and efficiently. This means less waiting time and more time on the road, providing a seamless experience for electric vehicle drivers. ☕ Convenience Meets Comfort: While their vehicles charge, drivers can relax and enjoy the comfort and amenities of Starbucks. This unique blend of quick charging and Starbucks' welcoming environment makes the wait time both productive and enjoyable. 🌱 Commitment to Sustainability: Both Mercedes-Benz and Starbucks are committed to sustainability and reducing carbon footprints. By increasing the availability of fast-charging stations, they are encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future. 🤝 A Win-Win Collaboration: This partnership not only enhances the EV ownership experience for Mercedes-Benz drivers but also attracts more customers to Starbucks locations. It's a perfect example of how businesses can collaborate to create value for customers and promote sustainable practices. For more details, read the full article here: storeshttps://lnkd.in/eXU4YdYT #MercedesBenz #Starbucks #EVCharging #Sustainability #Innovation #ElectricVehicles #GreenEnergy #Partnerships

44% of EV owners select quick-service restaurants (QSRs) as their first choice for charging compared to other venues, such as big box retailers or convenience stores, according to new findings from a recent study we conducted. This means that QSRs that embrace investing in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure stand to gain a competitive edge in the evolving retail landscape. In this new blog, Dyna Boen, Swati G., and Kim Pesiri LeConey explore the retail brands leading the way in EV charging and the unique opportunity for QSRs to get people back into the restaurant while their EV powers up. Read more here: https://hubs.li/Q02sxyMK0 #retail #qsr #EVs #insights

In this blog, my @Escalent colleagues dig into new findings about where EV owners charge, which retail EV charging locations have the biggest draw and why. Click below to read more. #retailers #consumerbehavior #evcharging https://lnkd.in/gJgFqFaC

In this blog, my Escalent colleagues dig into new findings about where EV owners charge, which retail EV charging locations have the biggest draw and why. Click below to read more. #retailers #consumerbehavior #evcharging

Where are EV owners charging and what retail EV charging locations have the biggest draw? Check out the brands leading the way in EV charging and the unique opportunity for QSRs to get people back into the restaurant while their EV powers up in a new blog from our sister agency, Escalent. https://lnkd.in/eHCaW3NT #retail #qsr #EVs #insights

Our family recently went fully electric. And, while we no longer dread stopping at gas stations, road trips are usually planned around charging points. Since charging takes time, might as well grab food or coffee to recharge your own battery while waiting. Check out this recent blog from Escalent about the meaning of this trend for QSRs. #EV #QSRs #consumertrends