While sales of electric vehicles and hybrids reached record highs in the US last year, they still only account for 11% of new car sales. Current oil prices might accelerate the shift away from gas guzzlers, but for Volvo to reach its stated goal of becoming a fully electric car company by 2030, it also needs robust charging networks — range anxiety and charge times are among the top reasons drivers avoid EVs.
Starbucks and other third place brands are a natural fit for facilitating those networks since they already provide relaxed environments where consumers are happy to spend some time, with or without a car slurping watts as they sip on their Iced Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso.
