IKEA gets behind EV charging

(AFP PHOTO/Peter MUHLY)

IKEA is to host electric car charging stations at select stores in the US and Europe, the company has confirmed.

Last week, electric car charging station provider Ecotality announced a deal which will see charge points for EVs installed in 10 stores in the Western United States, allowing furniture shoppers to top up on juice as they browse the huge warehouses.

The stores involved in the trial include ones in Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington and the first stations are expected to be operational this Fall.

This US trial will run through December 2012, with the chain saying that hosting stations at its large, bright out-of-town locations will make them more accessible to users - something which the company's European counterparts have also picked up on.

A spokesperson for IKEA UK confirmed to Relaxnews this week that although only one store features a charger at the moment, all of its future stores are to be built with a charger as standard.

The company will also consider retrofitting the chargers to its existing outlets, it has confirmed.

IKEA is one of the biggest global companies to put its weight behind electric vehicle charging, although several other large US stores have also promised to feature the functionality for drivers.

Walgreens and Best Buy are two high-profile names which recently signed up to host chargers, while US DIY giant Lowe's also confirmed this month that it will stock the chargers for individuals to install their own chargers at home.

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