Chevron starts deploying EV charging stations at its gas stations

Discussion in 'Rivian' started by EyeOnEVs, May 22, 2019.

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  1. EyeOnEVs

    EyeOnEVs New Member

    Source: electrek.co - "Chevron starts deploying EV charging stations at its gas stations"

    Oil and gas station companies are increasingly looking at adding electric vehicle charging stations at their locations in order to stay relevant as the industry moves to electric.

    Chevron is the latest example as it partners with EVgo to bring EV charging stations to its gas stations.

    Today, EVgo and Chevron announced that “more than a dozen EVgo fast chargers – ranging from 50 kW to 100 kW capacity – are already operational or under construction at five Chevron stations.”

    They are all in California, around Los Angeles and the Bay Area: Aliso Viejo, Manhattan Beach, Menlo Park, and Venic.

    The one in Menlo Park is already operational.

    Cathy Zoi, EVgo CEO, commented on the announcement:

    “We believe the future of transportation is electric, and EVgo is helping everyone—including traditional fueling stations—take advantage of the benefits of EV adoption. EVgo is excited to work with Chevron to bring fast-charging to gas stations today and applauds the company’s forward-thinking efforts to serve the rapidly growing market of electric vehicle drivers in California.”

    Alice Flesher, general manager of Chevron’s company-owned and operated network of gas stations, added:

    “We are excited to be working with EVgo to install electric vehicle charging stations at select locations in California. While gasoline and diesel remain an important part of California’s transportation energy mix, we are always exploring how to evolve our offering, helping improve the consumer experience and working to remain the preferred brand choice on the West Coast.”

    Chevron is not the only oil company seeing the writing on the wall.

    Oil companies have been increasingly interested in electric vehicle charging as they start to see electric vehicles slowly taking over the car industry.

    Shell is leading the charge through its involvement in the new Ionity charging network in Europe, building its own chargers at its own gas stations, and recently acquiring a charging network with over 30,000 chargers.


    Petro Canada, formerly a state-owned oil company in Canada but now part of Suncor, is also on board as it started deploying charging stations to its large network of gas stations in Canada.


    BP also started investing in electric vehicle charging through an investment in a startup.

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    More than a dozen DC fast chargers at 5 Chevron "California" stations averages out to less than 3 chargers per station, though the picture in the article shows 4 charging stalls at one location. So is Chevron just dipping its toes in to test the waters? Is this just a marketing move to stay relevant? Are they looking to boost sales in their high-margin, stocked mini-marts?

    I suspect most if not for all those reason, which I'm OK with. I've always thought adding EV charging stations to gas stations made logical sense. From a long list of reason/benefits, two that usually pop to mind are that ICE drivers are already familiar with going to / locating gas stations to refuel (recharging seems like a logical extension) and the other is leveraging the existing signage across many highways on which exit to take when locating/needing a gas station.


    As more of these oil companies install EV charging stations at their respective gas stations and this soon becomes the status quo, I can't help but think about the questions that get brought up about straight up EV charging locations. Are there an adequate amount of charging stations per location? Is 50 to 100 kWh charging enough for the long term? Are the charging stalls pull-in or drive-thru like with gas pumps which more easily accommodate longer vehicles and trailers? In other words, are these oil companies (and to a degree the EV charging company they are partnering with) putting enough forethought into this for the long and even the near term?
     
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