McDonald's partners with InstaVolt to roll out fast charging in UK restaurants

McDonald's has partnered with InstaVolt to roll out rapid charging for electric vehicles in its UK restaurants, offering proper 125kW fast charging.

The rise of electric vehicles seems almost unstoppable right now, but there are still many hurdles to overcome as EV use begins to move from ambitious early adopters to the mainstream.

Price remains a major barrier to electric vehicles, but with the market predicting that battery costs will soon mean that electric vehicles can be sold at prices comparable to ICE cars, charging networks for electric vehicles remain an issue.

Yes, there are lots of little 7kW chargers everywhere from the roadside to supermarket car parks, but as batteries get bigger – and the cost comes down – they’ll get better – and an hour’s charge at 7kW in Tescos will win out. It’ll do more than just get you home again.

But now, McDonald's has teamed up with InstaVolt to install proper fast chargers at its UK Drive Thru restaurants, offering charging rates of up to 125kW, enough to get you to an 80 per cent charge and chips in most electric cars.

Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonald’s UK, said:

With over 1,300 restaurants, our ambition means you’ll never be far from a charging point. When we hope to resume normal service after COVID19, drivers will be able to grab a coffee or meal here and get an 80% charge in 20 minutes. We’re known for speed and convenience, and this partnership with InstaVolt will deliver that for EV drivers.

Poppy Welch, director of Go Low Low, a joint industry and government initiative to promote electric vehicles, said:

The UK has an ever-expanding network of charging points, with over 300 public charging point connectors installed in the last 30 days alone. Charging stations across the country, such as McDonalds, will show people how easy it is to own and run an electric car. This significant commitment to installing new charging points is fantastic news for existing and future electric car owners in the UK.

We don't know yet which or how many McDonald's UK sites will be charging fast, but it all helps.