High-Power Charging, a unit of German automaker Mercedes-Benz, announced on July 17 that it has entered into a major partnership with Starbucks to deploy Mercedes-Benz's fast-charging stations for electric vehicles in more than 100 Starbucks locations across the United States.

High-Power Charging said the first phase of the partnership will focus on Starbucks locations along Interstate 5 that will install charging stations for electric vehicles with up to 400 kilowatts of power. Interstate 5 is an important travel corridor connecting Canada and Mexico, and the move will greatly improve the ease of charging electric vehicles along the West Coast.

These charging piles will be prioritized in core urban areas and areas with relatively scarce charging pile resources to meet the growing demand for electric vehicle charging. The two sides also plan to identify more locations for cooperation in the future, including expanding to East Coast markets to further broaden the coverage of the charging network.

Michael Kobori, Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks, said: "Starbucks has always been committed to combining renewable clean energy projects with communities with inadequate infrastructure. The partnership with Mercedes is another important step in our drive to expand our electric vehicle charging network, and we look forward to customers being able to charge their electric vehicles in a more environmentally friendly way while enjoying their Starbucks coffee."

High-Power Charging has taken its first step toward building its charging stations in 2023 as part of a $1 billion investment plan for the division. Since then, they have opened more than a dozen charging stations in several states, including Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.

High-Power Charging plans to expand its network of charging stations to nearly half of the states in the next 12 to 18 months. By the end of 2030, the division is expected to have approximately 10,000 charging stations in the United States, Europe, China and other core markets, providing strong support for the adoption of electric vehicles and green mobility.