Mercedes opens first DC charger at Starbucks
The new site features 400 kW chargers capable of delivering up to 300 miles of range in around ten minutes, depending on the vehicle. The installations are intended to serve both Mercedes-Benz customers and the wider EV market. Each bay is thus fitted with both NACS and CCS connectors.
Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging North America outlined the partnership with the coffee store in mid-2024. The company plans to equip up to 100 Starbucks sites across the US with public fast charging infrastructure.
The charging network is part of an initial US$1 billion investment aimed at accelerating long-distance EV travel and improving charging reliability. In the USA and Canada, Mercedes-Benz HPC North America plans to open around 400 charging hubs with more than 2,500 fast charging points for customers of all brands by the end of this decade.
As the I-5 is a key corridor on the West Coast, connecting Canada and Mexico, it is expected to become a core element of the company’s US strategy, linking major population centres from Washington State to California while offering charging opportunities at frequently visited retail locations.
Meanwhile, US media report that Mercedes-Benz HPC North America is also undergoing leadership changes. Andrew Cornelia, who has led the joint venture since its formation in 2023, will leave his role at the end of the month to join Uber as global head of electrification and sustainability.
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