Costco's Florida fast EV charging experiment could end up being a major help for American drivers

Fast EV charging just got a big-box upgrade, thanks to Costco.

The warehouse giant, which is famous for bulk bargains and $1.99 pizza slices, has started testing fast charging stalls at its North Port, Florida store.

The project is a collaboration with Electric Era, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, and it could turn a weekly Costco run into a weekly recharge.

If the pilot proves successful, it might set the stage for a nationwide rollout that changes how millions of Americans shop and power their cars.

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Fast EV charging while you shop

Electric Era’s six new stalls went up in just 54 days, and they’re nothing like the slow Level 2 chargers that can take all day to top up a car.

Instead, these are fast chargers capable of bringing an EV battery from nearly empty to 80 percent in as little as 20 minutes.

While this pales in comparison to BYD’s new lightning-fast chargers, which can charge the same amount in only five minutes, the 20-minute chargers work just fine.

After all, this is also probably the minimum amount of time it takes to complete a Costco trip.

The idea is simple: shoppers can park, stock up on bulk groceries and household goods, and return to a vehicle that’s ready for the road.

The timing couldn’t be better.

EV adoption in the US is currently outpacing the build-out of reliable charging infrastructure.

Over 1 million new EVs were registered in 2024, and July 2025 was almost the biggest ever month for US EV sales on record.

Yet drivers often complain about crowded charging stations, long wait times, or chargers that simply don’t work.

And while Tesla’s Supercharger network is growing quickly, it’s still not enough to keep up with the sheer number of EVs out there.

By leveraging its 531 US warehouse locations, Costco could help close the gap with thousands of fast charging stalls, without the need for government funding or incentives.

Costco may or may not expand this partnership

At the end of the day, reliable fast EV charging is the holy grail for owners of electric cars.

Level 3 chargers like the ones installed in North Port deliver a meaningful charge in under an hour, compared to six to eight hours at a Level 2 stall.

And with Tesla opening its Supercharger network to other automakers, demand for fast, hassle-free charging is only climbing.

Costco’s partnership with Electric Era offers an alternative that fits seamlessly into everyday life.

There are still questions, of course.

Will Costco expand this beyond a single store? Will the stalls be able to handle peak weekend shopping rushes?

If the answers are yes, a Costco membership could soon come with an unexpected perk: charging your car while you shop.

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