7-Eleven has launched 7Charge, a proprietary EV (electric vehicle) charging network and app, at select U.S. store locations in Florida, Texas, Colorado and California. The retailer plans to expand the 7Charge network into Canada as well as other U.S. locations while continuing to utilize third-party fast-charging network options, with the goal of matching consumer demand and expanding EV charging to neighborhoods that have, until now, lacked access.
The 7Charge store sites will allow customers to charge any EV make and model compatible with common CHAdeMO or Combined Charging System (CCS) plug types, provided drivers have the appropriate adapters. A companion 7Charge app will help drivers locate charging locations and enable seamless payments.
“For over 95 years, 7-Eleven has innovated to meet our customers’ needs — delivering convenience where, when and how they want it,” said Joe DePinto, President and CEO of 7-Eleven in a statement. “Now, we are innovating once again to meet our customers where they are by expanding our business to provide EV drivers the convenience of the future…today.”
7-Eleven had announced plans in June 2021 to install 500 EV ports at 250 stores in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2022, although it’s not clear how much progress the retailer had made toward that goal. The growth of EV offerings in retail has been relatively slow except for supermarket giant Kroger, which had deployed more than 350 EV charging stations as of June 2022, with plans to add more by the end of that year.
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Pilot Flying J included the addition of EV charging stations as part of a $1 billion store renovation initiative announced in March 2022, and in August 2022, Ikea installed EV chargers at more than 25 stores and announced plans for a wider rollout in 2023.
