Dive Brief:
- Jacksons Food Stores, in partnership with OnPoint EV Solutions, plans to build level 3 fast electric vehicle chargers at nine stores across California, Idaho and Washington, according to an announcement last month.
- The companies broke ground on the first charging station on March 14 and expect to begin bringing the chargers online during the summer, according to the announcement.
- While sales of EVs are still growing, the hype has cooled and c-stores and other retailers are thinking strategically about if and where to add the amenity. Since the start of the year, Pilot has hit 130 charging locations while Royal Farms expanded its partnership with Blink.
Dive Insight:
Jacksons is targeting busy thoroughfares with its EV charging program, including Interstate 84 in Idaho, Interstate 15 in California and Interstate 90 in Washington State.
The company’s EV charging stations will include four 180-kW charging stalls, a solar canopy, security cameras and high-speed WiFi. OnPoint EV is also testing an interactive digital kiosk at these locations, which can offer deals on in-store items as well as directions or points of interest in the area. Shoppers can pay with credit and debit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
In the future, customers will also be able to reserve charging sessions or link the OnPoint app to the Jacksons app to preorder services and get curbside delivery, according to the announcement.
“Electric Vehicle owners embrace innovation, making them a great fit with the Jacksons brand and all its offerings,” said Cory Jackson, Jacksons Food Stores’ president.
The chargers are expected to charge vehicles to 80% in half an hour or less.
The nine stores receiving EV chargers are in Nampa, Meridian and Fruitland, Idaho; Rialto and Norco, California; and Ellensburg, Spokane and Spokane Valley, Washington. All sites are expected to be operational by sometime next year.
