DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) today will unveil its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station in Orlando at its International Drive and Sand Lake Road location with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Eastern time, as City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer makes the inaugural charge. The drugstore chain is working with Car Charging Group, an owner and provider of EV charging stations, to offer convenient and accessible charging sites at eight locations throughout the area by the end of October. The charging stations will feature two level 2 chargers that are compatible with every EV produced in North America.
Walgreens is helping to build Orlando’s EV charging infrastructure by becoming the area’s largest retail host of charging stations.
“These charging stations in neighborhoods and along major commuter routes will offer quick accessibility for EV drivers who may be worried about where to charge up next,” said Walgreens market vice president Marlin Hutchens. “We’re pleased to bring this clean and green energy alternative to Orlando. These charging stations will continue to set us apart as a retailer as more people choose greener lifestyles.”
“Walgreens initiative to install EV charging stations across Orlando and the U.S. is a major step forward for EV drivers and the EV charging station industry as a whole,” said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of Miami, Fla.-based Car Charging Group.
In July, Walgreens announced plans to offer EV charging stations at approximately 800 locations across the country by the end of the year. Major markets to host these sites include Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Select locations in Florida, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington will also receive EV charging stations. Walgreens has installations under way across Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
In Orlando, Car Charging Group will install, manage and maintain EV charging stations on Walgreens properties. The company will provide flexible payment options, the ability to make reservations, and tracking of customer usage patterns, energy use, costs and revenues, all via the ChargePoint Network’s cloud-based software service plans for managing EV charging operations. Car Charging Group’s EV services installation will also provide Walgreens customers with access to ChargePoint Network’s 24/7 driver support and mobile phone applications, which include station location and real-time availability, turn-by-turn navigation and charging status.
Walgreens has a long-standing commitment to reducing energy usage and expanding its renewable energy initiatives. The company became the nation’s first drugstore chain to install a geothermal energy system at one of its stores in Oak Park, Ill., last November. The company’s Mira Mesa, Calif., location became the first drugstore to receive LEED gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Walgreens also plans to have more than 130 rooftop solar installations at stores and distribution centers by the end of the year. In addition, the company utilizes an energy management system that monitors electricity, water, heating and cooling and waste management at more than 3,000 stores to help reduce energy usage and maintenance costs while extending equipment life.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2011 sales of $72 billion. The company operates 7,779 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
About Car Charging Group Inc.
Car Charging Group Inc. (www.CarCharging.com) is an owner and provider of EV charging stations with the mission to establish a nationwide infrastructure, enabling EV and PHEV owners to charge their EVs anytime, anywhere. As part of its strategy, the company acquires installs and maintains electric vehicle charging stations and works with its landowner partners to identify appropriate locations for its units. The company provides convenient, safe and affordable charging stations away from home in customer-friendly public locations, including municipalities, shopping malls, parking garages, multi-family residential and commercial properties. Car Charging Group seeks to become the leading provider of electric car charging services. The company, based in Miami, Fla., launched its operations nationally in September of 2009 and is expanding its operations internationally.
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