Good Connection

Adding an EV charging station to a fast casual restaurant sounds so logical but it wasn't done before. It would be great to see the trend catch-on. It diversifies the demographic of the customers who come to the establishment (in this case Waffle House). Not a natural marriage between their menu and the tastes of a typical EV car driver but in time there will be a way for the two to meet and like each other.

America’s EV charging network remains inadequate due to a mix of uneven coverage, reliability and maintenance problems, regulatory and permitting delays, high costs, grid limitations, standardization issues, and persistent economic and equity barriers. While Waffle House cannot solve for most of these problems it can help with evening out the coverage. If EV drivers knew for a fact that if they found a Waffle House, the would definitely be able to charge their car, that is a big deal. Such guarantees are few and far between today.

Waffle House is not the only game in town (which is great for these drivers)/ Fast casual and quick-service restaurant chains, including Taco Bell, Starbucks, Subway, and some McDonald’s locations, are actively installing fast EV chargers in their parking lots, recognizing the mutual benefit for both EV drivers and restaurant business. While far from ubiquitous yet, this goes a long way in making EV a viable option for everyone who want to make the switch but wants to feel confident about their ability to charge on the road.