Walgreen Co. continues to grow its electric-vehicle charging station program, which helps to boost U.S. energy initiatives.
Walgreen Co. is expanding its electric-vehicle charging station program at some 800 of its 7,733 stores by the end of 2011, MarketWatch reported.
The drugstore chain operator began its charging station program late last year, as electricity producer NRG Energy Inc. began creating a network of them in Houston.
Walgreen cited U.S. Energy Department data that indicates that its public charging stations will represent about 40% of such sites in the country.
The retailer said installations are expected to begin later this month. Major markets expected to host them include Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Select locations in Florida, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington also will receive the charging stations.
The Energy Department aims to set up enough charging stations to encourage sales of electric vehicles, such as General Motors Co.’s Chevrolet Volt. The Volt, which has seen strong sales and orders in a limited rollout and is expected to be available nationwide by year’s end.