IKEA plugs in two electrical vehicle-charging stations

IKEA officially plugged in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The initiative is the first such project for IKEA in the United States. Similar installations are planned at eight other IKEA stores in the western United States.

To charge an EV at IKEA Portland, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their Blink InCard (RFID card), plug the charger into the EV, and then shop while the vehicle is charging.