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California McDonald's adds electric vehicle fast charge station

April 24, 2013

A McDonald's restaurant in Riverside, Calif., has installed a Blink Direct Current (DC) Fast Charger. The restaurant also has a standard Blink pedestal charging station. The electric vehicle (EV) fast charge station installation is the result of the restaurant's partnership with ECOtality Inc., a provider of clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The Blink DC Fast Charger offers improved range confidence for EV customers visiting the restaurant, featuring an intuitive touchscreen user interface and mobile payment options. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified McDonald's restaurant, which is located at 2242 University Ave., worked closely with ECOtality to ensure the restaurant received the latest in EV fast charge technology.

"It's thrilling to be Riverside's source for the latest in fast charge technology," said Candace Spiel, McDonald's owner/operator. "For us, it all comes down to being able to offer the Riverside community a better customer service experience and further demonstrate our commitment to environmental stewardship."

ECOtality is the project manager for The EV Project, supervising the largest deployment of EV infrastructure to date. The new Blink DC Fast chargers currently deliver the fastest charging rate available, while Blink pedestal chargers are ideal for top off charging. McDonald's EV customers will be able to charge their batteries up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes using Blink's DC fast charger, and there is currently no associated fee.

Blink members can charge at the Level 2 pedestal charger for as low as $1 per hour. Membership is required for use of the Blink network, or EV owners can call for a guest pass at the charge station.

"This partnership is an important achievement for Blink as we continue to serve all aspects of an EV drivers' charging needs," stated Brian Koontz, National Account Sales Manager for ECOtality, Inc. "EV drivers can visit this particular McDonald's, which has set the gold standard for sustainable construction in the fast food industry, and recharge their vehicles while enjoying one of the country's favorite restaurant chains."

This restaurant is owned and operated by Tom and Candace Spiel. In 2010, it was completely rebuilt to operate in a more environmentally friendly way.

With the new capability, this McDonald's can earn revenue from EV charging and attract more EV drivers.

Read more about sustainability efforts.