One of the biggest barriers to widespread electric vehicle adoption, experts say, is the nation’s woefully inadequate public charging situation.
As new EV owners have been discovering, so-called Level 3 DC Fast Charge stations that can being a given EV up to 80% battery capacity in as little as 30 minutes are still few and far between. Worse, they’re often inconveniently located, and have a reputation for being inoperable at the most inopportune times. (The exception here perhaps being Tesla owners who have access to the brand’s extensive, and by accounts reliable, Supercharger network.)
According to the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, there are currently a little over 7,000 Level 3 public chargers operating across the U.S., versus an estimated 145,000 fueling stations.
While various entities like Electrify America and EVgo are expanding their national charging presence, especially near busy interstate highway exits to help facilitate longer-distance travel, it’s still said that EV ownership won’t truly be practical for the masses until high-speed charging stations become as ubiquitous as gas stations, or 7-Eleven stores at the least.
Someone up at corporate headquarters must be paying attention, as 7-Eleven recently announced its own kilowatt replenishment initiative. It’s in the process of creating a proprietary network of fast-charging units adjacent to its stores in the U.S. and Canada, particularly in areas that have previously lacked access to public charging. That would allow owners the opportunity to grab coffee or a sandwich while the vehicle is replenishing an EV’s battery pack.
With the launch of its 7Charge network and its accompanying smartphone app, the company says it wants to “build one of the largest and most compatible electric vehicle fast-charging networks of any retailer in North America.” A relative handful of the first 7Charge stations are already up and running several locations in Florida, Texas, Colorado, and California, with further expansion being manifest destiny.
The Level 3 chargers will accommodate both the more common Combined Charging System (CCS) plug type as well as the CHAdeMO configuration used by some Asian automakers. They’ll be installed at both 7-Eleven stores as well as the company’s other retail holdings, including Speedway and Stripes convenience stores.
The company operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. While not all will likely be charger-equipped, 7-Eleven says its units will be supported by 100% green electricity, located on often-traveled corridors, and installed at well-lit store locations that are staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week, which is not something that can be said about most stations thus far.
Payment is made at the charger via the 7Charge app or a standard credit card. As with other networks, the cost is assessed according to either killowatts consumed or the time spent charging, depending on state regulations. Rates and pricing policies for individual locations are available via 7-Eleven’s app and by scanning a QR code on the charger.
EV owners can download the 7Charge app from the App Store or Google Play, or by visiting the 7Charge website.
