The Future of Convenience Stores: Why Installing EV Chargers Now is a Smart Business Move

How Fast-Charging Infrastructure is Reshaping Retail and What It Means for Your Business

The Rise of EVs: A New Era for Convenience Stores

As electric vehicles (EVs) become more mainstream, industries across the board are adapting—and the convenience and fuel retailing  industry is no exception. With more drivers switching to electric, the demand for fast-charging infrastructure is growing rapidly, and this trend is creating unique opportunities for convenience stores to expand their services.

In fact, EVs are projected to account for over 50% of new car sales by 2030. For business owners, understanding how to integrate EV charging into your operations can position you at the forefront of this change, while enhancing customer experience and profitability.

I recently had the chance to discuss these opportunities in-depth with Chris from the Gas Biz Guy podcast. Chris is a successful entrepreneur with a deep understanding of the fuel retailing and convenience industry, and his platform serves as a valuable forum for discussing key trends and challenges in this space.

Demystifying Fast-Charging: What You Need to Know

Fast-charging infrastructure refers to high-powered charging stations capable of recharging EVs quickly, typically within 15 to 30 minutes. This is different from slower home charging or public Level 2 chargers, which can take several hours.

For gas station and convenience store owners, fast-charging infrastructure offers a new service to EV drivers—one that also encourages customers to spend time in your store while their car charges. This new model of “fueling” provides more opportunities for in-store purchases, creating a significant business potential as more drivers transition to electric vehicles.

Five Ways EV Charging Can Boost Your Bottom Line for C-stores and Gas Stations

1. Attract New Customers: EV drivers need to charge their cars more frequently on the road, which can lead to increased traffic to your store.
2. Increase In-Store Purchases: The extra time spent waiting for cars to charge gives customers more opportunity to make purchases, whether it’s coffee, snacks, or fresh food.
3. Differentiate Your Store: Installing EV chargers can set your business apart from competitors who haven’t yet adopted this technology, making your location more attractive to modern, eco-conscious consumers.
4. Improve Customer Loyalty: EV drivers often return to the same charging stations for convenience, leading to repeat business and increased customer loyalty.
5. Participate in Incentives: Many governments offer incentives or tax breaks for businesses that invest in clean energy infrastructure like EV chargers, helping to offset initial costs.

Navigating the Transition: Strategies for Success

Integrating fast-charging infrastructure can seem like a daunting task for business owners, especially when considering upfront costs and changes to traditional business models. However, many of the concerns around cost, space, and ROI can be addressed with careful planning and an understanding of how EV charging fits into your overall business strategy.

1. Cost Considerations: While installing fast chargers does require an investment, there are several ways to minimize costs. Many regions offer grants, tax credits, and other financial incentives to support businesses in this transition. Additionally, partnerships with EV charging networks can sometimes reduce upfront costs by sharing infrastructure.
2. Maximizing ROI: One of the key revenue opportunities lies in customer dwell time. Unlike traditional fuel pumps where customers leave after a few minutes, EV drivers may spend 15-30 minutes waiting for their vehicles to charge. This provides ample time for them to make purchases inside your store, particularly when you offer appealing products like fresh food or beverages.

Electric Era’s battery-backed EV fast charging solutions provide additional improvement to EV charging ROI by reducing utility demand charges for more of a bottom line benefit than traditional fast chargers.

1. Adapting Space: Adding charging stations may require adjustments to your parking layout. However, this can often be planned to minimize disruption and improve overall traffic flow, making your site more user-friendly.
2. Future Proofing: As EV adoption continues to grow, the investment in charging infrastructure today can help future-proof your business. Sites that are equipped to handle EV charging will likely see increased traffic from a growing customer base.

Your EV Charging Roadmap: Essential Considerations

1. Location: Choose a visible, easily accessible location for your chargers, ideally near highways or in areas with a growing number of EV drivers.
2. Space and Layout: Ensure you have adequate space for both charging equipment and EV parking. Charging takes longer than fueling, so parking spots must be well-placed to avoid disrupting traffic flow.
3. Customer Experience: Focus on making the charging experience pleasant for your customers. Offering comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, or fresh food can enhance the time spent waiting for a charge.
4. Hardware and Software Selection: Work with a trusted partner like Electric Era who can provide reliable hardware and software solutions, battle-tested to provide high uptime and Successful Charging Attempt Rates compared to other providers.. Electric Era also provides turnkey deployment to handle everything from procurement through installation to take all the pain of EV installation off your plate..
5. Utility Upgrades: Electric Era is able to deploy Fast Charging to almost any location, even those with grid constraints where conventional Fast Chargers are not feasible. 
6. Incentives: Research local and federal incentives that could help offset installation costs, including grants, tax breaks, and clean energy subsidies.

Lessons from the Frontrunners: Industry Success Stories

Companies like Bucc-ee’s, Circle K and 7-11 have already started installing EV chargers, recognizing the opportunity to diversify their services and increase in-store sales. Their success highlights the potential for convenience stores and gas stations to become integral parts of the EV charging network, providing not only charging but also an enhanced retail experience for drivers.

The Road Ahead: Positioning Your Business for 2030 and Beyond

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles is not a passing trend—it's a permanent shift. By 2030, EV charging stations may be as common as fuel pumps, and businesses that invest in this infrastructure early will be better positioned to attract a growing customer base.

As battery technology improves and charging times decrease, more drivers will rely on fast-charging stations while on the road. Convenience stores and gas stations that offer these services will have the advantage of being early adopters in an evolving market.

Expert Take: Insights from the Gas Biz Guy

During my conversation with Chris from the Gas Biz Guy podcast, we explored many of these topics in detail. Chris, a high school dropout turned gas industry entrepreneur, has built a $100 million/year gas distribution business. His platform, Gas Biz Guy, is dedicated to discussing key trends and challenges for gas stations, convenience stores, and real estate. His unique perspective as someone deeply rooted in the traditional fuel industry offers valuable insights into how business owners can adapt to the electric vehicle revolution.

You can follow Gas Biz Guy on social media:

• Twitter
• TikTok
• YouTube

Charge Up Your Business: Taking the Next Step

For gas station and convenience store owners, the shift to electric vehicles represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By investing in fast-charging infrastructure now, you can tap into new revenue streams, improve customer loyalty, and future-proof your business in a rapidly changing industry.

For more insights and practical advice, book a meeting with our expert team to learn about the solutions that can help you navigate this transformation effectively.