Walgreens charges forward with electric vehicle filling station expansion in Fla.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Walgreens and Car Charging Group on Monday announced the expansion of EV charging services to 13 Walgreens locations in Orlando, Fla., and Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.



"Walgreens dedication to the EV movement is unmatched by any other major retailer," Car Charging Group CEO Michael Farkas said. "Walgreens commitment to providing EV charging services to its customers nationwide is a testament to its support of environmental sustainability and of electric vehicle use."



The two companies plan to broaden their EV charging services with more locations in major metropolitan cities in Florida, as well as in other cities, including Phoenix; Akron, Canton and Columbus in Ohio; and Austin, Texas.



Walgreens has made a concentrated effort to becoming a destination site for EV drivers seeking to top off their battery while shopping or commuting.



Electric vehicles already on the market include the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt and the BMW ActiveE. EV drivers soon will be able to purchase a wider variety of cars, including the Ford Focus electric, which should start shipping next month, as well as the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the Honda Fit EV, and the Tesla Model S that are forecasted to be due out in June.