Electric vehicle (EV) drivers across Canada will be able to fuel up on caffeine and snacks and charge their car at 100 Tim Hortons locations by the end of 2028, thanks to a partnership between the restaurant chain and FLO.

The two companies plan to deploy 100 FLO EV fast chargers at the 100 locations, with the first units already operational at a restaurant in Regina. Up to 14 more restaurants are expected to have chargers installed by the end of 2025, and up to 50 locations by the end of 2026.

Tim Hortons will be the largest restaurant provider of public EV fast charging in Canada upon completion of the plan, the company said in a Wednesday morning release.

“Whether it's grabbing a coffee and a charge before work, or taking a break on a roadtrip, we want every Tims Run to be convenient, welcoming, and a highlight of the journey," Hope Bagozzi, chief marketing officer of Tim Hortons, said in the announcement.

The EV chargers are supported by over $200 million in funding from a partnership between Quebec City-based EV charging network operator FLO and the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). FLO and the CIB plan to introduce over 2,000 public fast charging ports across Canada by 2027.

Louis Tremblay, president and CEO of FLO, called the partnership a "pivotal moment in making EV charging a seamless part of everyday life for Canadians."

Having the fast chargers at Tim Hortons locations builds “the reliable infrastructure EV drivers need . . . empowering Canadians to confidently accelerate their transition to electric mobility," he added.

Addressing the EV charge wait time

FLO’s Ultra charging stations can charge up to 120 kilometres of range in as little as 10 minutes, the company stated. Individual charging results will vary with every vehicle.

As EV batteries tend to need more time to top up compared to refuelling a gas-powered car, EV charger operators have sought to occupy drivers during the wait. 

One company attempting to tackle this problem is ChargeStop Technologies Inc., which opened a service station in Edmonton last year tailor-made for EV owners. The site has five Level 3 chargers, Wi-Fi access, a lounge area and refreshments for sale.

ChargeStop’s CEO and founder Tim Murphy intends for drivers to pass the time eating snacks and browsing the internet as the charger quickly powers the EV battery — a strategy very similar to what Tim Hortons will offer.

However, most EV owners do not seem too unhappy with the wait. A 2024 survey by Toronto-based organizations Pollution Probe and Mobility Futures Lab that asked 2,024 Canadian EV owners about their charging experience found only 29 per cent were dissatisfied with wait times at charging stations.

About Tim Hortons, FLO

Tim Hortons has already been adding EV chargers to some of its restaurants, including an Oakville location.

A charger has been installed at a location in Regina that the company has touted for its sustainable features, such as the use of low-carbon concrete for construction and a rainwater storage system for outdoor irrigation.

FLO says it enables over two million charging events per month with more than 140,000 fast and Level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations.

Last year, the company raised $136 million from a funding round led by Export Development Canada to commercially launch its EV chargers and grow its charging network.