How Costco's electric vehicle charging experiment could be a game changer for American drivers
One of America's largest retailers could make EV charging easier and faster for drivers.
- Costco is providing fast charging services at a Florida location, thanks to new partnership.
- Electric vehicle charging is hardly convenient for drivers as sales outpace infrastructure.
- Costco's partnership with Electric Era could mean more fast charging stalls in parking lots, which is huge for EV owners.
Costco is one of the few retailers in America where consumers can get an affordable slice of pizza just a few steps away from furniture, produce, and technology. Costco warehouses are essentially one-stop shops for everything folks need for their daily lives. The retailer even offers gasoline at certain locations (via their gas stations).
Transportation is evolving and Costco plans to evolve with it, according to Electrek, an electric vehicle news site. The retailer will host fast EV charging stalls from Electric Era (an EV charging company) at a North Port, Florida location. Here's how this collaboration could change the way American Costco shoppers charge their EVs forever.
Costco hosting fast EV charging stations developed by ex-SpaceX engineers
Solving the electric vehicle charging infrastructure issue in America may seem like rocket science. That’s why a team of former SpaceX engineers − the founders of Electric Era − might be the ideal group to tackle the lack of reliable fast EV chargers in the country.
Electric Era provided Costco with six EV fast charging stalls in just 54 days. These charging stalls are capable of recharging a battery by up to 80% of its total capacity in 20 to 60 minutes. So, folks using these chargers could theoretically park their vehicles in a Costco parking lot, shop, and return to an EV that has a replenished battery.
Positive non-Tesla charging experiences can be few and far between as electric vehicle market share drastically outpaces the amount of available reliable chargers in America. Over 1 million new electric vehicles were registered in 2024 according to Experian.
Several automakers including General Motors are seeing record EV sales in 2025. Costco's experiment at its North Port, Florida location could lead to future partnerships with Electric Era on similar charging stations across its retail locations.
There are at least 531 Costco warehouses in the U.S. according to a 2023 article by Visual Capitalist. Adding charging stations to Costco parking lots nationally could result in thousands of new fast charging stalls in America for EV owners (independent from any federal investments or incentives).
Why is EV charging such a headache right now?
Electric vehicle charging is on its way to becoming more ubiquitous, but it still has a long way to go. Part of the reason charging is such a headache to many electric vehicle owners is the lack of fast charging stalls and stations. Level 2 chargers can take hours to provide an EV with enough power to make a charging session beneficial to drivers.
Level 3 charging stations are the most convenient types of charging stations thus far. They can provide more kilowatts than weaker Level 2 charging stations, providing significant battery percentage gains in under an hour. In comparison, it can take six to eight hours for a Level 2 charging stall to provide an adequate charging session.
Tesla has partnered with several automakers including Hyundai, Kia, General Motors, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Honda, Acura, and more to allow Tesla Supercharger compatibility via adapters (that may be built into charging stalls). This partnership is good for non-Tesla EV owners, but it means more Tesla superchargers are being used than ever before, increasing the demand.
What Costco's EV charging experiment could mean for electric vehicle owners
If you don't have access to a reliable home charging system, electric vehicle charging can be anything but easy. EV owners without a home charger have to rely on public charging stations, which can be crowded and problematic.
There are peak charging times where local public charging stations can amass crowds patiently waiting for their turns at the stall. Typically, there are only four to six stalls at a station. Charging stalls can be slower during peak hours and in extreme weather conditions.
If Costco chooses to sign additional contracts with Electric Era, the retailer's parking lots could become extremely beneficial to customers and electric vehicle owners. A weekly Costco run could also be a weekly charging session, making a process that can be frustrating part of a weekly shopping routine.