Want to attract a new market segment to your fast-food restaurant or convenience store? Satisfy the needs of the growing number of EV drivers by adding QSR EV charging to your menu.
It’s a no-brainer. People come to convenience stores and fast-food restaurants for one thing—a quick bite to eat so they can get back on the road ASAP.
Adding EV chargers to your QSR’s amenities can help EV owners do just that. Instead of having to stop twice to satisfy their appetites and their cars’ need for fuel, those drivers could do it all at your store.
Let’s look at the factors that make EV charging a great investment for convenience stores and fast-food restaurants.
EV Ownership Is on the Rise
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Contrary to some of the rumors you might have heard, EV ownership is growing among American drivers. In fact, 2023 closed with a record number of EV sales on the books.
As new technologies extend EVs’ range and shorten charging times, that number will continue to grow. Despite their slightly higher price, EVs are beginning to attract even the most skeptical drivers as gas prices soar. The long-term fuel savings can add up to a significant chunk of change over the years.
Providing these drivers with EV chargers can make the difference between gaining a customer or watching them drive by to a convenience store or restaurant that has them. And, if your store is in a strip mall with several eateries to choose from, you could even monetize your investment by allowing non-customers to charge their vehicles for a fee.
All Your Competitors Are Doing It
As Restaurant Dive’s Danielle McLean points out, many “legacy chains,” such as Subway, Taco Bell, Starbucks, and others, have already installed EV chargers at some locations.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
On the convenience store side of things, Sheetz and Wawa have already begun moving toward serving up EV charging alongside their signature “MTO burgers” and hoagies.
If your store competes with these corporate giants for business, making EV charging available will allow you to go head-to-head with them on equal footing. Neglect this growing customer metric at your own peril. As GenZ EV Solutions’ Bill Bieser stated in the Restaurant Dive piece cited earlier, “If businesses don’t offer EV charging, it can hurt them…It would be like having the only fast-food chain that doesn’t offer free refills on fountain drinks for dine-in customers. It will become an expected service in the future.”
Funding Opportunities Abound
Federal, state, and some local governments have set aside money to help new EV charging stations get off the ground. Taking advantage of these programs can give you the financial boost you need to buy property in a desirable location and fund the infrastructure you’ll need to support your charging station.
Many utility companies, too, are willing to partner with charging station owners to fund at least part of the infrastructure you’ll need to get your project off to a good start. After all, it’s in their best interest to drum up more business wherever they can find it.
EV Drivers Have More Money to Spend
As FreeWire Technology founder and CEO Arcady Sosinov points out in his Hospitality Technology piece, EV drivers’ annual income is nearly twice the national average. Delighting them with both a place to charge their cars and grab a bite to eat will likely bring more of them your way.
Commercial EV Adoption Is Growing
Truckers, taxi drivers, and delivery van drivers have one thing in common – they need to grab a quick meal, fuel their vehicles, and get back on the road. Commercial EV drivers aren’t any different – and their number is growing across the US.
It’s no wonder why. EV fleet vehicles are cheaper to fuel, easier to operate, and have fewer breakdowns than their gas- or diesel-powered equivalents. Companies that have switched to commercial EV usage have lowered their fleets’ operating costs while reducing their carbon footprint.
With light commercial electric vehicles’ predicted growth rate of 46.1% from 2023 to 2030, you’ll want to get your share of that swelling market segment. Taxi drivers, delivery van drivers, and other commercial vehicle drivers will need somewhere to charge up and fill their bellies.
Heavy-duty EV sales, too, are growing. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of heavy-duty electric vehicle sales rose by a factor of three. As manufacturers continue to chip away at extending these vehicles’ range, you’ll see more semi-truck and bus drivers patronizing your store – if you install EV charging facilities.
Fast Food + Fast Chargers Make the Perfect Combo
People who drop into a fast food or convenience store expect to get in and out quickly. Installing DC fast chargers, as the Restaurant Dive article advises, is the best strategy to ensure fast-food EV charging success.
Although the initial cost for DC fast-charging equipment might be greater, your reputation as a great place to get a quick dinner and a charge will more than make up for that investment in the long run. There’s no better marketing tool than a legion of satisfied customers.
Learn More About How EV Charging Can Benefit Your Convenience Store or QSR
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If you want a deep dive into all the benefits EV charging can bring your fast-food restaurant or convenience store, you’ll want to attend the EV Charging Summit. With eight learning tracks covering all the aspects of EV charging – technology, funding, marketing, and more – you’ll hear from the world’s top experts who have realized the benefits EV charging has brought to their businesses.
That’s not all. With our Shop Talks, you’ll get a wealth of information specific to your industry, interact with other convenience store and QSR owners who have experienced success with EV charging, and network with other professionals in your field. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Register to attend the next EV Charging Summit today!
