Electric vehicles are gaining momentum as companies and regulators across the world seek to drastically lower emissions and move toward renewable fuels. That means c-stores need to keep their finger on the pulse, as a surge in EVs could spell a pullback in demand for gasoline.

Also, since it takes longer than pumping gas — even on the low end, most chargers need at least 20 minutes — EV charging presents retailers with the potential of customers spending more time inside the store itself. 

In the second quarter of 2022 alone, almost 200,000 EVs were sold. That’s a roughly 66% gain over the same quarter last year. And the number of electric vehicles with longer range is growing too. The U.S. office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy reported in August that 14 of this model year’s cars could get 300 miles or more on a charge, compared to only five in 2021. 

But 300 miles won’t get drivers across the country. It won’t even get them all the way across many states. As more Americans get EVs, they’re going to need access to charging along the way. 

Convenience stores are already often set up in ideal pit-stop locations for drivers, and many operators are beginning to expand their services by installing EV chargers, from single-store tests like the one Phillips 66 just launched to widespread rollouts like Pilot’s, which covers hundreds of sites totaling thousands of chargers. 

Keep reading to catch up on the latest c-stores bringing EV charging to their customers.