Fast food restaurants are implementing EV charging stations at their locations for patrons to use while relaxing and enjoying their meals. Millions of people every day visit quick-serve restaurants for somewhere to sit and eat. Chains like Starbucks, Subway, Taco Bell, and Arby’s have already begun installing EV charging stations for their patrons.

Subway has created an EV charging oasis park that will be similar to a rest stop. For select locations, the parks will include EV charging stations, picnic tables, restrooms, Wi-Fi, and playground spaces for drivers to use while charging their vehicles. It’s one of their biggest sustainability efforts that have been in the works so far. Subway also has dedicated promotions for patrons that use the EV charging stations. Diversified Restaurant Group, the franchise that owns Taco Bell and Arby’s, is making plans to put EV charging stations at nearly 300 of their locations, mostly dedicated in California. Meanwhile, Starbucks has been working on installing EV charging stations at Starbucks locations on route from Seattle, WA., where their headquarters is located, all the way to Denver, CO.

Businesses and restaurants can benefit from EV charging stations because of their ability to attract and retain customers. They can also use EV charging stations to promote how their company is working towards lowering their carbon footprints with sustainable efforts. This also adds extra convenience for drivers that are traveling long distances and need somewhere to stop and sit while charging their vehicle. Franchises are including fast charging stations rather than level 2 charging stations because customers won’t be sitting to eat as long at a quick-serve restaurant as they would in a typical one.

Click here to read the full article, originally published in July 2023, by QSR Magazine.