Each location will have a minimum of two spaces reserved for electric vehicle charging, while some stores have up to four.

John Worthington, Kohl’s chief administrative officer, said: ‘Kohl’s pilot of electric vehicle charging stations demonstrates our commitment to advancing environmental solutions in a meaningful and tangible way for our customers.

‘Not only are these stations an added shopper convenience, they also encourage environmental responsibility among our shoppers. We will continue to explore additional locations to pilot charging stations at our stores nationwide.’

Coulumb Technologies will be responsible for installations at 19 stores across California, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington as part of the ChargePoint America programme.

The remaining 14 stores will be managed by ECOtality, which will install 42 charging points at locations in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee, five of the areas covered by The EV Project. Also funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this ECOtality-managed project will install stations across 18 cities and metropolitan areas covering six states and the District of Columbia.

ECOtality’s partners to date include Swedish furniture giant Ikea and grocery store Hollywood Fred Meyer, who have both installed charging points at their stores. ECOtality is also responsible for a network of charging points that will make up an “electric highway” on the Tennessee Triangle, a 425 mile stretch of interstate that connects Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.

Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality, Inc, commented: ‘Kohl’s Department Stores is one of the retail industry’s biggest sustainability advocates. Kohl’s corporate commitment to green building practices and renewable energy integration aligns perfectly with ECOtality’s mission to establish a rich EV charging infrastructure that encourages EV adoption.

‘We are excited to partner with Kohl’s to take its sustainability efforts one step further—and bring our Blink charging stations to destinations that EV drivers frequent.’