Coffee and Kilowatts: Why The Flo–Tim Hortons Tie-Up Proves the EV Ecosystem needs RoadtoEV
In August, when Tim Hortons announced it would begin rolling out EV chargers at select restaurants across Canada in partnership with Flo, it was more than a nice perk for latte lovers. It was a clear signal. EV charging has become mainstream.
Flo gained a highly visible retail partner, Tim Hortons positioned itself as forward-looking and eco-conscious, and EV drivers get more options to top up while grabbing their double-double. It's a win all around.
Partnerships like this, while exciting, can't solve the full charging puzzle on their own. Public charging infrastructure is vital, but it's also expensive, slow to build, and geographically uneven. Which is where RoadtoEV app comes in. It's the peer-to-peer platform that aggregates thousands of underused home Level 2 chargers into one discoverable network.
If Flo + Tim Hortons is the billboard-sized solution, RoadtoEV is the last-mile connectivity that ensures EV charging works not just on highways and at coffee shops, but everywhere.
What the Flo–Tim Hortons Partnership Gets Right
This deal has the EV industry lit up, and here's why:
High Visibility: Few brands are as embedded in Canadian daily life as Tim Hortons. Putting chargers where people already stop every day, multiple times, normalizes EV ownership.
Consumer Convenience: Coffee plus charging is a natural pairing. Short dwell times align with top-up charging needs.
Network Expansion: Flo adds valuable locations without bearing the full burden of land acquisition and site development.
Strategically, it's brilliant. It's the tie up of the decade. It's also proof that charging needs to blend into existing routines. Drivers shouldn't have to plan their lives around charging infrastructure. Charging should meet them where they already are.
That's what RoadtoEV believes in.
But What About The Gaps?
Here's the challenge! Even if Tim Hortons eventually adds chargers to thousands of stores, it's still only a fraction of what Canada and North America need to meet EV adoption targets.
According to the International Energy Agency, the world needs over 15 million public charging points by 2030 to keep pace with projected EV demand. Canada's current build-out is well behind that curve. And large partnerships like Flo–Tim Hortons, while highly visible, take years to reach critical scale.
Meanwhile, EV drivers are left dealing with inconsistent availability. The oft experienced long queues in high-demand charging spots. Or blind spots in rural areas, suburbs or small towns. Or the high upfront costs that utilities and retailers spend to deploy at each site.
This is where RoadtoEV's peer-to-peer model shines and literally changes the equation.
RoadtoEV: The Missing Link
Unlike traditional networks that require time, significant investment, red tape, and more, RoadtoEV isn't about building new infrastructure. It's about unlocking what already exists.
Hundreds of thousands of EV owners have Level 2 chargers at home. Chargers that sit idle for most of the day. RoadtoEV aggregates these chargers into a single, discoverable platform, letting other EV drivers pay to access them.
The result! There's a denser charging coverage instantly. No construction or new investment required. Now drivers can find chargers in residential neighborhoods, not just commercial hubs. Plus, every new EV owner with a charger is a potential new host.
RoadtoEV launches their peer-to-peer app on Sept 20, 2025, where it will be available on Apple and Android platforms, as well as a variety of other platforms including Apple Carplay.
If Flo and Tim Hortons represent a macro solution, RoadtoEV is the micro solution that fills in the map. It ensures there aren't just chargers on highways and in cities, but also in the suburban cul-de-sacs and small towns where EV adoption can now thrive.
B2B Stakeholders, Here's The Good News
RoadtoEV isn't competing with partnerships like Flo–Tim Hortons. It's complementing them. It creates a layered, resilient charging ecosystem. For B2B stakeholders, this has real strategic implications:
For Charging Networks (like Flo): RoadtoEV extends network reach without capital expenditure. All Flo (ChargePoint, Public Chargers, etc.) chargers are listed on RoadtoEV. And a listed home charger in a small town can be a brand touchpoint, increasing driver trust and loyalty.
For EV Manufacturers: Integrating RoadtoEV into in-car navigation means fewer frustrated customers facing range anxiety. That directly improves brand satisfaction and accelerates adoption.
For Utilities and Energy Providers: A distributed, peer-to-peer charging model allows for smarter load balancing. With dynamic pricing, utilities can incentivize off-peak charging, easing strain on the grid. This is huge!
For Real Estate Developers: RoadtoEV helps properties advertise "EV-ready" without bearing full infrastructure costs. Renters and condo boards can monetize shared chargers instead of debating expensive new installs.
For Municipalities and Policymakers: Incentivizing residents to list chargers through RoadtoEV expands public access without heavy investment, making EV adoption targets more achievable.
The Economics of Aggregation
The genius of RoadtoEV's model is in aggregation. Think of it like ride-sharing apps: no one rider or driver made a difference until the platform connected them all. Suddenly, idle cars became a transport network.
RoadtoEV does the same for EV chargers. Idle private assets become part of the public solution. For infrastructure providers, this is especially attractive because there's low marginal cost. Each new charger listed costs RoadtoEV pennies compared to millions for a new public station.
Then there's the revenue potential. Homeowners earn money offsetting installation and electricity costs. Infrastructure partners benefit from increased visibility, and drivers gain affordable charging options.
And finally, decentralization makes the system less vulnerable to outages or bottlenecks.
When A Double-Double Isn't Enough
Here's the bottom line. Grabbing a coffee and topping up your EV at Tim Hortons is a fantastic consumer experience. It's also a symbolic step forward for charging visibility.
But scaling EV adoption requires more than symbolic gestures. It requires density, affordability, and convenience at every level of the network. RoadtoEV delivers that by connecting the chargers we already have, with the drivers who desperately need them.
Think of it this way, the Flo–Tim Hortons deal is the public face of EV charging. RoadtoEV is the connective tissue that makes sure no one feels disconnected. Together, they form the kind of layered infrastructure that can actually support mass EV adoption.
The Road Ahead
The EV industry loves a headline-grabbing partnership. And rightly so. But the real story, the one that determines whether North America meets its EV adoption and emissions targets, will be written in the smaller, less flashy, more impactful innovations.
RoadtoEV is one of those. By treating home chargers as shared assets rather than private conveniences, it unlocks an immediate, scalable solution to one of the industry's biggest bottlenecks.
So yes, celebrate your next latte-powered charge at Timmies. But recognize the future of EV charging won't be built solely on corporate tie-ups. It will be built on a mix of big moves and small, distributed solutions. Where RoadtoEV is not just helpful, but essential.
Road to EV will be available for download on all major app stores starting September 24th, 2025.
For EV Auto Makers, Home L2 Charger Manufacturers and Public Charger Operators, and other businesses looking to partner with RoadToEV app contact marketing@RoadtoEV.com
Consumers looking to participate can register for the RoadToEV BETA program.