DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. and Car Charging Group Inc., a nationwide provider of convenient electric vehicle (EV) charging services, have expanded EV charging services to 13 Walgreens locations in Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
Walgreens already has installations completed or under way for EV charging stations at more than 60 stores in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago.
The two companies plan to broaden their EV charging services with more locations in major metropolitan cities in Florida as well as in other cities including Phoenix, Arizona; Akron, Canton and Columbus, Ohio; and Austin, Texas.
The retailer has said that it hopes to offer EV charging stations in as many as 800 locations (see Related Content below for previous CSP Daily News coverage).
Car Charging Group installs fast EV charging stations, known as Level II, which provide 240 volts with 32 amps of power, in order to quickly refuel an EV's battery. The EV charging stations utilize the standard SAE J1772 connector widely adopted by nearly all automobile manufacturers.
"Environmental sustainability is part of Walgreens commitment to help our customers live well, stay well and get well," said Walgreens market vice president Marlin Hutchens. "As more people choose greener, healthier lifestyles, we are excited to work with Car Charging Group to expand convenient EV charging options in the Orlando and Tampa/St. Petersburg areas as well as in several new states and markets to come."
The deployment of convenient and accessible EV charging stations in communities along major commuter routes helps eliminate range anxiety and "helps foster the EV revolution," the companies said.
"Walgreens dedication to the EV movement is unmatched by any other major retailer," said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of Car Charging Group. "Walgreens stores are ideal locations for EV drivers to top-off their batteries while shopping. Walgreens commitment to providing EV charging services to its customers nationwide is a testament to its support of environmental sustainability and of [EV] use."
Car Charging Group has installed its fast charging stations at multiple Walgreens locations in Orlando and in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, further supporting its ability to provide EV charging services where people live, work and play. Usage of these EV charging stations continues to grow as more and more drivers become aware of EV services at Walgreens stores.
Once an EV driver registers and creates a CarCharging account, he or she will receive a very small RFID card that attaches to a keychain, simplifying usage and payment at each CarCharging station.
In a forthcoming upgrade, drivers will soon be able to reserve a time slot, guaranteeing them access to the station to recharge their car.
CarCharging's RFID card also allows the driver to use other charging locations that are on the ChargePoint Network. Should an EV driver not have or own an RFID card, CarCharging also supports direct payment via credit card.
Walgreens has a longstanding commitment to reducing energy usage and expanding its renewable energy initiatives, it said.
Car Charging Group, Miami, is ae pioneer for nationwide public EV charging services enabling drivers to refuel anytime, anywhere throughout North America and ultimately in many high growth global markets. It has more than 30 strategic partnerships from all sectors including municipalities, shopping malls, parking garages, governments, retail parking, multi-family residential and commercial properties totaling more than six million parking spaces with all partner locations expected to have high numbers of EVs at their locations. Partners include Ace Parking, Central Parking, Equity Residential, Icon Parking, Rapid Parking, USA Parking, Walgreens, The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Miami Beach, the City of West Palm Beach, Fla., and others.
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion, Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen operates 7,847 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
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