Why Should Convenience Stores Add EV Charging Stations?
With the Blink-Owned business model, c-stores get to share a portion of the revenues generated by the charging stations that you host. That means a new revenue stream at no cost to you! But, besides the new revenue opportunities, there are many more reasons to install EV chargers at your c-store.
Increased promotion
First, Blink’s public Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) will appear on popular EV charging services. These include select vehicle navigation systems, Plugshare, Google Maps, Apple Maps, and the Blink Mobile App. When EV drivers are searching for a nearby EV charger, your c-store or gas station will be highlighted as a place to stop.
Increased brand awareness
As with restaurants and other businesses, EV drivers love to share their charging experiences with other drivers. If they have a good charging experience, they will be more likely to give a positive review of the charging station (and the business it is attached to) on sites like Plugshare and Google.
With the expected annual growth rate of EV sales in the United States reaching 10.53% between 2025 and 2029, c-stores that host EV charging will be in a position to take advantage of this rise in demand. Providing customers with a needed amenity can help you build brand loyalty before other c-stores in your area start installing EV charging stations of their own.
Increased dwell-time
If most convenience stores make their profits from retail sales, increasing vehicle dwell time means your drivers are more likely to enter your store to make a purchase. DCFC hosts can expect EV drivers to charge their vehicles for 20 or 30 minutes, or potentially even up to an hour if on a road trip. Whether from boredom, wifi, or a bathroom break, these EV drivers will go into your store and spend money on food, drinks, lottery tickets, and other items.
Differentiation
While the EV market continues to grow in the United States, installing EV charging sooner rather than later comes with some distinct advantages. One of the biggest advantages is that you can differentiate your convenience store from competitors that don’t yet offer EV charging as a service.
Installing EV charging positions your business as forward-thinking and tech-savvy. This will help you attract customers who value businesses that embrace modern technologies.
How to Qualify for Blink-Owned EV Charging Stations at C-Stores
Our Blink-Owned business model is an exclusive EV charging program that is only open to select customers. Because Blink assumes virtually all installation, operation, and maintenance costs, our team works behind the scenes to select qualified station hosts.
Blink considers:
Existing grants, rebates, and other incentive programs
National agreements with companies
Performance at other chargers in the area
Demographics and EV traffic in the proposed location
If your convenience store is in a high-traffic location, it may qualify for the Blink-Owned business model. It will require approval from Blink before it can participate. Your Blink sales manager can help you find out if your location qualifies for the Blink-Owned business model.
What if My Business Doesn’t Qualify for the Blink-Owned EV Charging?
If your c-store does not meet the requirements for the Blink-Owned program, don’t fret! There are still ways to get Blink EV charging stations for your business. For our remaining business models, because your business is investing your own budget, you will receive a higher percentage of revenue than a Blink-Owned station host.
Hybrid-Owned business model
In this model, the host and Blink share the costs and revenue generated. The host pays for site preparation and electricity, and Blink pays for the equipment, installation, and maintenance. With this model, the revenue share for the host is significantly higher than the Blink-Owned model.
Host-Owned Finance business model
With the Host-Owned Finance model, you lease the EV charging stations and pay a monthly subscription fee while keeping 100% of the generated revenue. You pay for the site preparation and electricity. Blink pays for the equipment, installation, and maintenance for the duration of your lease term.
Host-Owned business model
With the Blink Host-Owned business model, which is perfect for service locations, you completely purchase equipment and pay for installation. Blink Network services, maintenance and electricity usage are your only ongoing costs, which may be covered by your monthly charging revenue. You are the sole owner and operator of your EV charging stations and keep 100% of the revenue.
Businesses installing EV charging stations with the Host-Owned business model can still save some money by procuring funding to help with purchasing and installation costs. You can search for available funding options with Blink’s Commercial Incentives Finder.
Royal Farms and Blink
One of Blink’s Blink-Owned success stories with a convenience store chain is our agreement with Royal Farms, which runs over 300 stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina.
Recently, we announced that Blink currently operates 76 EV direct current fast charging ports at 23 Royal Farms store locations in Maryland and Delaware. And we continue to qualify other Royal Farms locations for Blink-Owned DCFC.
Conclusion
Regardless of which business model you choose, hosting EV charging stations at your convenience store will help to promote your business, bring more drivers to your location, benefit from their dwell-time spending, and support American manufacturing and energy jobs.
To see if your convenience store qualifies for the Blink-Owned business model, or to inquire about one of our other business models, please contact a Blink EV charging expert today.
