Instavolt is to rollout 125kW chargers at McDonald’s locations in a new partnership.
The chargers are to be installed at new and existing Drive Thru restaurants “where they can be accommodated” across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The first wave of installations is to be announced as they become available, Instavolt said, with the chargers to play into McDonald’s green ambitions in a move designed to create a new nationwide charging network.
The duo are claiming the partnership is “the first of its kind” for a major UK restaurant chain, lauding it as increasing accessibility of rapid charging for UK drivers.
Adrian Keen, CEO of Instavolt, pointed to suggestions that more consumers are considering an EV due to the drop in emissions during the pandemic, stating that he hopes the new partnership with McDonald’s “will help encourage them to make this decision”.
Instavolt will become the first beneficiary of the government’s Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF) in 2019, with the company also laying claim to the country’s largest owner-operated rapid charging network after installing its 400th charger last year.
The funding Instavolt received from the CIIF will support the rollout of the chargers at McDonald’s sites, with all the chargers supplied by renewable energy.
“With over 1,300 restaurants our ambition would mean you would never be far from a charging point,” McDonald’s UK and Ireland CEO, Paul Pomroy, said.
“Appetite for electric vehicles, which will be a central part of the UK’s efforts to build back greener post COVID-19, is growing. This partnership and ambition takes advantage of our scale, and is a real step forward for those already driving electric vehicles, as well as people considering making the switch.”
