7-Eleven introduces 7Charge electric vehicle charging network
- Gas station and c-store chain 7-Eleven plans to expand its electric vehicle (EV) charging portfolio.
- The retailer is debuting 7Charge in select stores across the U.S. and soon in Canada.
- 7Charge also has its own mobile app that aims to make the experience seamless for consumers.
7-Eleven this week announced new ambitions in the electric vehicle (EV) charging space.
Called 7Charge, the gas station and convenience store chain in a March 16 release said it’s debuting the proprietary network across select 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and eventually in Canada. 7-Eleven says it plans to have the largest and most compatible EV charging network of any retailer in North America.
The service is already available at several locations in Florida, Texas, Colorado and California, according to the release. The network will be compatible with both CHAdeMO and CCS (Combined Charging System) plug types so long as customers have proper adapters, the release said.
The 7Charge network will also have its own mobile app that the retailer says makes the charging and payment process more convenient and seamless. The app is available to iOS and Android users, according to 7-Eleven.
The retailer will still use third-party EV charging infrastructure as it expands its first-party 7Charge network, which it said will help it match growing consumer demand for EVs and bring EV charging to areas without it.
More than 13,000 7-Eleven stores are located in the U.S. and Canada, which are a mix of operated, franchised and licensed locations. It also operates and franchises the Speedway and Stripes banners, which will also get the 7Charge network, as well as the Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuit restaurant concepts.
Once synonymous with gasoline, c-stores are beginning to add more EV charging options to their locations. As Retail Leader recently reported, Buc-ee’s future Virginia store will have two dozen charging stations for Teslas.
Globally, electric vehicles are anticipated to make up 26% of all cars sold by 2030, 72% by 2040 and about 82% by 2050, according to a 2020 study by Morgan Stanely. The global electric vehicle charging market is projected to reach around 123 million units in 2030, up from about 1.46 million units in 2021, according to data from Next Move Strategy Consulting.