IKEA U.S. is deploying fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers at more than 25 retail locations across the country via a partnership with Electrify America and Electrify Commercial. The initiative is part of the retailer’s plan to become circular and climate positive by 2030, which includes achieving zero-emissions home deliveries by 2025 and cutting relative emissions stemming from customer and co-worker travel in half by 2030.
A total of 200 individual ultra-fast chargers will be added to IKEA locations in 18 states starting in late 2022 and concluding by the end of 2023. Electrify Commercial, the business arm of Electrify America, will provide more than 225 individual chargers at IKEA properties in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
“At IKEA, we believe that we must work together with our partners to tackle climate change and create solutions for a greener future,” said Javier Quiñones, CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA U.S. “This collaboration with Electrify America will not only bring ultra-fast public chargers to our stores for the first time but it will also help us take a big leap as we work toward our targets to become circular and climate positive. We look forward to continuing to innovate around new ways we can make our everyday lives more sustainable.”
IKEA U.S. has undertaken a number of circularity initiatives over the past few years, including offering resources to help customers incorporate solar power into their homes and introducing a buy-back and resale program for gently used goods.
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Other retailers also have been incorporating EV charging stations into their customer facing and business operations:
- The Kroger Co. installed 350 EV chargers at locations across the U.S. and plans to add stations to more locations by the end of 2022;
- 7-Eleven will install 500 fast charging EV stations at 250 stores in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2022;
- Amazon incorporated complimentary EV charging stations for customers at its Seattle Amazon Fresh location as the company seeks zero carbon certification from the International Future Living Institute for the store; and
- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. committed to doubling the number of EV charging stations across its properties in 2022 by adding 200 EV charging stations.