Costa Coffee to install electric vehicle charging points at 200 drive-thru sites

A Costa Coffee drive-thru store in Nottingham, UK | Photo credit: Costa Coffee

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The partnership with InstaVolt, one of the UK’s largest owner-operated rapid EV charging networks, will see Costa Coffee install EV rapid chargers at 200 new and existing drive-thru sites in the UK. The points will deliver charging speeds of up to 120kW, adding 220 miles of vehicle range in just 30-minutes. The ‘open charger’ model will enable customers to access the point on a pay-as-you-go basis.
 
The new initiative will see Costa Coffee more than double its existing portfolio of 176 EV charging points already installed across the UK. Costa Coffee says the new EV charging capacity will contribute to the UK retail sector’s goal of achieving net zero by 2040 and the wider UK government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
 
“As the nation’s favourite coffee shop, we want to ensure we’re playing our part in enhancing our customers’ experience as they switch to more sustainable models of transport in that all important step to tackle climate change. As we continue to safely re-open our stores and deliver our ambitious UK & Ireland growth plans, we are proud to partner with InstaVolt to embed charge points across multiple Drive-Thru locations, contributing to the UK’s ever-growing EV charging infrastructure,” said James Hamilton, Costa Coffee UK & Ireland Property Director.
 
Drive-thru has proved a fruitful sales channel for branded coffee chains over the last 12 months as convenience and safety have taken priority over in-store experience during the pandemic. Costa Coffee, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021, has the largest drive-thru portfolio among UK coffee chains, operating more than 200 sites across the UK.