A. Lee Graham
Reporter
An IKEA furniture store boasts two electric vehicle charging stations. Photo courtesy of IKEA.
IKEA has extended its partnership with ECOtality Inc. to add 24 Blink electric vehicle charging stations to some of its U.S. home furnishings retail locations.
The newly designated sites include seven stores in Texas, Georgia, Illinois and Pennsylvania, as well as Swedish company’s U.S. corporate office in Conshohocken, Pa.
Installation is planned to occur this summer, bringing the total number of charging stations at IKEA locations to 55.
“We are fortunate to be able to expand this relationship with ECOtality, bringing EV charging stations to more IKEA locations across the U.S. since IKEA stores are typically visible and accessible from key points within a local metropolitan area,” said Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president, commenting in a news release.
“Increasing access to EV charging stations advances our goal of helping coworkers and customers – as well as members of the communities in which we operate – live more sustainable lives,” Ward said.
Texas locations are Frisco and Houston, with remaining locations in Atlanta; Bolingbrook, Ill.; Conshohocken, Pa.; Philadelphia; and Schaumburg, Ill., as well as the IKEA U.S. corporate office in Conshohocken.
IKEA operates 340 stores in 41 countries, including 38 in the U.S. More information is available at www.ikea-usa.com.