NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Stop & Shop's network of electric vehicle charging stations has reached the Berkshires.

 

The grocery on State Road has two stations installed so far and more stations are set to be installed at the Pittsfield locations. 

 

The regional supermarket chain began putting in the EV stations last July at stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island. 

 

The project is partnership with Volta Charging to install stations at participating stores that will allow customers to charge at no cost. 

 

"A Volta charging station is currently under construction at the North Adams Stop & Shop. Volta hopes this construction will be completed by month's end," said Stop & Shop spokeswoman Caroline Medeiros. "The Volta charging station at our Pittsfield store is at the beginning of the process and the timing for this location is TBD."

 

At every launched store, customers will be able to access two electric vehicle charging stations, featuring Volta Charging's high-resolution, two-sided digital displays. Customers with electric vehicles can park in the designated spaces and charge while they shop. On average, a Volta charging station can deliver up to 30 miles of range per hour.

 

"We're thrilled to partner with Volta Charging and offer our customers the benefit of electric vehicle charging at no cost," said Gordon Reid, president of Stop & Shop, in a statement released last July. "Providing this convenience allows us to do more than make things easier for our customers; it allows us to also make things better for the environment."

 

Stop & Shop has more than 400 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey. Volta Charging, part of Volta Industries, is working to develop a network that will "catalyze the shift from combustion-powered miles to electric miles," according to the press release. 

 

Volta has more than 2,200 stations, largely along the west and east coasts. The Stop & Shop stations will be the first in Berkshire County.