Charging While You Shop: A Game-Changer?
Costco may be about to revolutionize EV charging. The retail giant is piloting fast charging stations at its North Port, Florida location. The chargers come from Electric Era, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers.
These stations aren’t your average slow trickle chargers either. They can juice up an EV battery to 80% in just 20–60 minutes — perfect timing for a typical Costco run.
Why Costco? Why Now?
EV sales are surging. But charging infrastructure is still catching up — and painfully slowly.
Over 1 million EVs hit U.S. roads in 2024 alone. Yet reliable public fast chargers remain scarce, especially for non-Tesla drivers. That’s where Costco steps in.
With over 530 U.S. locations, the retailer has both space and scale. If this Florida trial succeeds, Costco could roll out chargers nationwide — without waiting on federal funds or public infrastructure builds.
Who’s Behind the Chargers?
Electric Era isn’t your typical startup. It’s led by ex-SpaceX engineers with a mission to fix America’s EV charging mess. They installed six fast-charging stalls at the North Port Costco in just 54 days — a speed unheard of in the current EV world.
Their tech focuses on speed, reliability, and convenience — three things public EV chargers usually lack.
Why This Matters for Everyday Drivers
For most EV owners, home charging is ideal. But not everyone has a garage, let alone a charger. That leaves them with public stations — often crowded, slow, or out of service.
If Costco makes this a nationwide move, it could normalize charging during routine shopping. Imagine charging your EV while stocking up on toilet paper and frozen pizza — no extra trip needed.
That kind of simplicity is exactly what the EV market needs right now.
What Comes Next?
If the pilot works, Costco may scale fast — bringing thousands of new fast-charging spots across the country. And they’d be non-Tesla friendly, too.
The takeaway? A weekly Costco run might soon mean a fully charged EV. That’s a win for drivers — and a warning shot for gas stations.
