Quicklee’s installs 3 fast-charge EV stations in New York

Dive Brief:

Quicklee’s has installed ChargePoint level 3 DC fast-charge EV charging stations at three of its New York locations, according to a company press release.
These chargers are all located just off major New York roadways – Interstate 390 in Avon, the New York Thruway in Batavia and Interstate 86 in Belmont.
With its 125 kW charging capacity, Quicklee’s will be able to get more customers in and off its lots quicker, with most cars charged within 20 to 30 minutes.

Dive Insight:

As EV chargers proliferate across gas stations and convenience stores, Quicklee’s has targeted the coveted road tripper by plotting its locations along major New York arteries. The use of fast chargers will also help these customers be able to get back on the road in a similar amount of time as if they had stopped at a QSR.

“Electric vehicles are growing in demand, and our customers, as well as travelers passing through, need and want convenient places to stop and charge up,” said Ken Perelli, Quicklee’s VP and COO, in the release.

Speed is often key in drawing EV customers, when they have a growing number of options to visit that aren’t just convenience stores. Taco Bell, for example, recently partnered with ChargeNet Stations to provide ultra-fast charging stations in California that provide an average of a 100-mile charge in 20 minutes.

For Quicklee’s, most charges, depending on the type of vehicle, will take less than 30 minutes, luring drivers who want to get back to their trip as soon as possible and boost its customer turnover rate and likely incremental sales. Users can sign up to use the stations and pay through ChargePoint’s app.

At the recent NACS Show earlier this month, Jacob Maass, a commercial fuels manager at Kum & Go, emphasized the need for speed in helping make the EV chargers financially viable for a convenience store. It’s simple math, but the more customers in and out, the more sales.

According to the release, Quicklee’s picked these three locations after consultation with Victor, New York-based Power Management Company. In Quicklee’s case, Power Management aided with design, installation, incentive coordination and commissioning services.

Founded in 1995, Quicklee’s operates 30 convenience stores in New York state, most of which are in the Finger Lakes region. The family-owned chain began in Avon, New York, and expanded to travel centers in 2017.