Charge Your Car at Menards? Its Illinois Stores Are Adding EV Ports.

Why It Matters

Embedding EV chargers in high‑traffic retail centers accelerates consumer adoption by making charging part of routine errands, directly advancing state electrification targets and the national charging infrastructure rollout.

Key Takeaways

• Menards partners with JOJO and XCharge to add EV chargers in Illinois
• Two dual‑port units enable eight cars to charge simultaneously per store
• Illinois targets one million EVs by 2030, boosting charger demand
• Installation costs rise $10,000 for each additional 25 feet of conduit

Pulse Analysis

Big‑box retailers are emerging as natural hubs for electric‑vehicle charging, and Menards is the latest entrant in the Midwest. By leveraging its extensive parking lots and steady foot traffic, Menards offers drivers the convenience of topping up while shopping, a model already proven by Walmart and IKEA. The partnership with JOJO Superfast EV Charging and XCharge North America brings four dual‑port stations to two Chicago‑area stores, each capable of serving eight vehicles at once, and a third site is slated for completion. This modest deployment aligns with a strategic push to embed chargers where consumers already spend time, reducing range anxiety and encouraging EV purchases.

The rollout also highlights the logistical and financial complexities of retrofitting retail sites. While a single charger can be installed relatively easily, extending conduit by just 25 feet can add roughly $10,000 in trenching and materials, as noted by XCharge’s senior vice president Alex Urist. Site selection must balance proximity to the store entrance with access to existing electrical infrastructure, often requiring negotiations between property owners, utilities, and multiple contractors. These challenges underscore why coordinated partnerships are essential for scaling public charging networks in dense suburban environments.

Illinois’s ambition to host one million electric vehicles by 2030 makes projects like Menards’ critical. State incentives and a growing used‑EV market are spurring demand, but the federal rollback of incentives has heightened the need for private‑sector solutions. By positioning chargers at everyday destinations, Menards not only taps into a new revenue stream but also contributes to the state’s climate goals. As more retailers recognize the commercial upside of EV infrastructure, the competitive landscape will likely see a rapid expansion of charging stations across the Midwest, accelerating the transition to electric mobility nationwide.