Soon you can go to a McDonald’s Drive-Thru, order a coffee or a Big Mac, charge your electric vehicle (EV), and be in and out of there in 20 minutes with an 80% charge and a full belly. That’s because McDonald’s is partnering with InstaVolt to deliver EV rapid charging points across all of its Drive-Thru restaurants in the UK. McDonald’s ultimate ambition is to create a nationwide charging network to help increase demand for EVs.
Charging points will be installed in both new and existing Drive-Thru restaurants within the McDonald’s territory where they can be accommodated. Once the first installations are complete, the companies will announce as they become available.
InstaVolt is the UK’s largest owner-operated network of rapid EV chargers. Their new quick charging points can charge at 125kW, among the fastest in the UK, making EVs more convenient for drivers. This partnership will increase the accessibility of rapid charging for drivers by providing an extensive network of recognizable locations such as service stations, workplaces, and residential streets.
In April 2020, InstaVolt was named Auto Express magazine’s recommended charge point operator due to its ease of use and high levels of reliability. The tribute adds that InstaVolt earned the Zap-Map survey where electric car drivers across the nation said InstaVolt was their favorite charging network for two successive years.
The CEO of McDonald’s the UK and Ireland, 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 take advantage of our scale and is a real step forward for those already driving electric vehicles, as well as people considering making the switch. With over 1,300 restaurants, our ambition would mean you would never be far from a charging point. Drivers will be able to pop in for a coffee or a meal and get an 80% charge in 20 minutes. We are known for speed and convenience, and this partnership with InstaVolt will provide just that for EV drivers.
Pomroy adds that their goal is to have more EV charging points than any other company in Ireland and the UK combined.
Adrian Keen, the Chief Executive Officer at InstaVolt, said:
With recent reports also indicating more people are considering EVs given the significant drop in emissions during this pandemic, we hope that this exciting partnership with McDonald’s will help encourage them to make this decision. I very much look forward to working with McDonald’s to fulfill their ambition by rolling out InstaVolt chargers across the McDonald’s estate.
The UK Government’s CIIF will fund the launch of InstaVolt chargers at McDonald’s sites across Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
