EVgo and Meijer to Install up to 480 New Fast EV Charging Stalls Across Midwest

On November 19, 2024, EVgo announced expanding its partnership with Midwest retailer Meijer to install up to 480 public fast charging stalls across Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. This initiative builds on the existing deployment of 24 fast chargers at six Meijer stores. EVgo plans to open 30 new stations by the end of 2026 and another 30 by the end of 2027, enhancing EV charging accessibility within Meijer’s six-state footprint.

All of these Midwestern states are lagging in EV charging stations, so this is welcome news. Statista reported that none of these made the top ten leading U.S. states for private and public electric vehicle charging stations and charging outlets as of April 15, 2024.

“Fast charging should be an effortless part of drivers’ daily routines, and nothing is more routine than a trip to the grocery store,” said EVgo President, Dennis Kish. “EV adoption is growing in the Midwest, and by adding hundreds of new fast charging stalls with the region’s leading supercenter, EVgo’s partnership with Meijer shows our companies’ shared commitment to delivering an elevated charging experience for EV drivers living or traveling throughout the Midwest.”

Today, Meijer offers EV charging options at more than 35% of its store locations. Meijer’s expanded partnership with EVgo enhances access to public fast EV charging across its stores, aligning with Meijer’s broader sustainability goals. The retailer has made significant strides in reducing its carbon footprint, including surpassing a goal of cutting emissions by 50% a year early, and it implements energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. Meijer has also been recognized by the EPA’s GreenChill partnership for its environmental efforts, further solidifying its commitment to sustainability.

“Access to electric vehicle charging is an essential pillar of our broader sustainability goals and we’re proud to partner with EVgo as part of our ongoing environmental stewardship efforts,” said Erik Petrovskis, Director of Environmental Compliance and Sustainability at Meijer. “As we continue to connect more customers with these charging resources, we are able to make notable progress toward minimizing our shared emissions and ensuring a more sustainable future for all.”

EVgo’s expanded partnership with Meijer aligns with its goal of building a customer-focused nationwide EV charging network. This initiative may benefit from EVgo’s recent conditional commitment for a $1.05 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, pending finalized financing.

For more information about the EVgo network, visit www.evgo.com. To find the locations of nearby EVgo chargers, please visit www.evgo.com/find-a-charger/ or check the EVgo app for real-time pricing and charger availability. 

Meijer Inc. is a Prominent Supercenter Chain

Meijer Inc. is a prominent American supercenter chain, renowned for its extensive presence in the Midwestern United States. Headquartered in Walker, Michigan, near Grand Rapids, the company has been a pivotal player in the retail industry since its establishment in 1934. Originally a supermarket chain, Meijer is credited with pioneering the supercenter concept in 1962, blending grocery and department store offerings under one roof.

With 259 stores, Meijer’s operations are concentrated in Michigan, where half of its stores are located, especially in its birthplace of West Michigan. The remainder are spread across Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. Many stores also feature adjacent Meijer-branded gas stations, some of which provide alternative fuels like E85, biodiesel, compressed natural gas, and EV charging stations, reflecting the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Meijer is a key player in the U.S. retail market, ranked by Forbes as the 14th-largest private company and the 23rd-largest retailer by revenue as of 2023. The stores are typically open 24/7 with minimal holiday closures.