A convenient stop for dessert could soon serve as a recharging station for electric vehicles (EVs) in Ohio. United Dairy Farmers (UDF), a family-owned business, is implementing DC fast chargers at six of its 170 existing stores, with the rollout anticipated to begin in early 2027.
Store Amenities and Customer Incentives
The selected sites are among UDF’s newest locations, each designed to offer patrons various amenities, including dining services, both indoor and outdoor seating areas, and complimentary Wi-Fi access. To enhance the experience for EV drivers, patrons will have the opportunity to use their U-Drive Plus loyalty credits toward charging costs and can accumulate additional credits by making qualifying purchases at the store.
While specific details regarding the charging speeds, connector types, port counts, and pricing have not been released, industry observers anticipate that the chain will utilize chargers from Electric Era, specifically their 400-kW units, to meet the requirements set by Ohio’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) guidelines. UDF successfully applied for and received NEVI funding for these six sites across the Greater Cincinnati and Columbus areas.
Strategic Implementation and Technology
The physical locations receiving the fast chargers are:
- Hilliard: 5171 Riggins Road
- Lebanon: 890 Columbus Avenue
- Mason: 5261 Kings Mills Road
- Maineville: 6643 OH-48
- Cincinnati: 11610 Lebanon Road
- Cincinnati: 5275 Beechmont Avenue
Electric Era’s technology combines standard grid electricity with the use of on-site batteries. This approach is designed to minimize peak energy demand and ensure that charging operations can proceed even when local grid capacity is limited.
Jim Dwenger, who serves as UDF’s head of retail, stated, “We’ve always believed UDF should evolve alongside our guests, and this is another step in doing that.”
UDF plans to disseminate the specific opening dates for the fast chargers individually and intends to use both customer feedback and real-time demand data to guide any future expansion plans.
