McDonald's Sign

McDonald's Sign

Ric Richards is the independent owner of a McDonald's restaurant in Cary, North Carolina. He's about to be the first McDonald's owner to offer a dedicated parking space to charge plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. In that way, he's an environmental pioneer.

In addition to the ChargePoint charging station, the restaurant, which is scheduled to open on July 14th, utilizes eco-friendly construction materials. “McDonald's is enabling a better environment for future generations by supporting zero-emissions transportation infrastructure," said Richards.

Whether the charging station will be used is another question. With so few EVs available, it could be years before anyone plugs-in at Richards' restaurant. Nevertheless, an apparent commitment to environmental responsibility is great for public relations, especially for a fast food chain that's often accused of promoting obesity and destroying rainforest to raise cattle for their food.

If only the other 31,000 Mickey D's locations would follow Richards' lead.

Source: Hybrid Cars