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IKEA in Costa Mesa installs electric vehicle charging stations
Drivers can power up their EVs while shopping in the home retail store.
By Kylie MalstromPublished: December 09, 2011 07:45 AM
Home furnishing retailer IKEA has set up four Blink Pedestal electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its store in Costa Mesa. This installation took place in partnership with ECOtality Inc., a maker of clean electric transportation and storage technologies. This initiative marks the fourth such project for IKEA in the U.S. Additional installations are planned at five other IKEA stores in the Western U.S.
To charge an EV at IKEA Costa Mesa, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their Blink InCard. (a radio-frequency ID card), plug the charger into the EV then visit the IKEA store while the car charges.
“IKEA has a never-ending job of asking what we can do today for a better tomorrow,” said Armando Cueva, the store's operations manager. “Hosting electric-vehicle charging stations at IKEA Costs Mesa is one way to help accomplish this goal, and we could not have done it without the support of our partners, ECOtality and Southern California Edison.”
ECOtality served as project manager for The EV project, a public-private partnership funded in part by a federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. ECOtality is overseeing the installation of about 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was created by the federal government to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the sale and use of EVs, made this funding possible.
“One of IKEA’s core values is their dedication to sustainability,” said Brian Koontz, national accounts manager of ECOtality North America. “ECOtality is excited to partner with IKEA Costa Mesa, as installing Blink charging stations is truly the next step toward exhibiting sustainable business practices.”
Related headlines
Plug In America organizes O.C.’s first annual Plug In Day
Costa Mesa IKEA goes green
State energy agency taps EV Connect for $1.9 million project
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To charge an EV at IKEA Costa Mesa, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their Blink InCard. (a radio-frequency ID card), plug the charger into the EV then visit the IKEA store while the car charges. “IKEA has a never-ending job of asking what we can do today for a better tomorrow,” said Armando Cueva, the store's operations manager. “Hosting electric-vehicle charging stations at IKEA Costs Mesa is one way to help accomplish this goal, and we could not have done it without the support of our partners, ECOtality and Southern California Edison.” ECOtality served as project manager for The EV project, a public-private partnership funded in part by a federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. ECOtality is overseeing the installation of about 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was created by the federal government to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the sale and use of EVs, made this funding possible. “One of IKEA’s core values is their dedication to sustainability,” said Brian Koontz, national accounts manager of ECOtality North America. “ECOtality is excited to partner with IKEA Costa Mesa, as installing Blink charging stations is truly the next step toward exhibiting sustainable business practices.” Related headlines Plug In America organizes O.C.’s first annual Plug In Day Costa Mesa IKEA goes green State energy agency taps EV Connect for $1.9 million project |
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