Walgreens and IKEA Installing EV Charging Stations

So you've got an electric vehicle like a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt (or maybe a Tesla Roadster if you've got mega-bucks). You need to do a little shopping, but you're also aware that your car could use a plug-in while you're roaming the store's aisle. Will that affect your choice about where to go?

Some large retailers – notably Walgreen Co. and IKEA – think so.

Both companies are announcing that they will be installing EV charging stations at their stores, reported Derek Meade for Yahoo's Digital Trends blog.

Pharmacy giant Walgreens has announced it will be equipping 800 of its stores around the U.S. with electric vehicle charging stations. Of course...this is hardly a majority of Walgreens' stores – the chain has 7,733 locations – but once the charging stations are installed, Walgreens says they will make up about 40 percent of charging stations available in the U.S. (This information is according to U.S. Energy Department data, apparently.)

While the data is based on what currently exists, writes Meade, and doesn’t necessarily account for future growth, Walgreens’ stations will significantly boost the charging network and possibly relieve the stress of electric vehicle owners suffering from “range anxiety,” or the fear that your charge will run out of your EV battery while you're on the road. (Some say “range anxiety” is a primary reason many customers are holding out on buying an EV.)

Walgreens will reportedly begin installing the stations at the end of July, with a majority of them planned for stores in large markets like Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Joining Walgreens will be Swedish furnishing super store IKEA, which is also beginning a charging station pilot program in many Western U.S. stores.

Since the retailers will be footing the bill for the juice, these charging stations are clearly a way retailers are investing in to tempt EV drivers away from competitors. As the number of EVs on the road will likely increase, Walmart and IKEA seem to be keen to get an early jump on the service.

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