Convenience stores might seem like the ideal place for an electric vehicle charger… drivers could go grab a drink, snack, or take a bathroom break while waiting for their vehicle to charge. But, store owners are reluctant to make this transition. Why? High electric utility fees on charging stations. 

Charging as little as four vehicles at once at a station could cost the operator $250,000 a year in supplemental fees. Electric utilities charge demand charges, which are applied when businesses draw a lot of power at once. Research has found that demand charges can make up 90% of a charging station’s electric costs. These fees are especially triggered when drawing a lot of energy at once, which is necessary to charge even a single electric vehicle.

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A driver stops at a Tesla charging station at a Sheetz