EV Business Opportunities for Small Shop Owners

Charging must be the most undervalued dwell time of the past decade 🤯 Fast chargers are magnets for retail sales, so why are retailers sleeping at the wheel? NREL studies show that 90% of EV drivers intend to make a purchase when they stop to charge. So, imagine you have a Maccie Franchise; let's add a fast charger to your car park. With only 10 charge sessions daily, you could bring 9 extra customers to your store. Assuming two cups of coffee and a cookie (€10/purchase), that's €90 extra in high-margin retail sales per day per location that offers charging. Let's math the math: McDonald's will roll out fast chargers at 700 locations in France alone. Achieving the above utilization for each location would generate a whopping €22.4M in additional retail sales, and we're not even considering charge margins or loyalty programs. BUT... Most stations are still idle ~ for 20 hours per day—that's a lot of potential lost. So, how do you get them to these stations and reliably capture that high potential dwell time? Millions of EV drivers plan their next charge stop, even before getting in the car. They can easily add those 10 extra sessions per day. And we see a clear pattern in our data: Cost and convenience always win—drivers who use route planning from a specific CPO charge twice as often on their network. Now, apply that same logic to retail. Retailers who own the charging experience do more than increase EV charging utilization—they drive foot traffic and capture high-value dwell times. Big brands are slowly catching on: • Grocery chains are integrating charging into their loyalty programs. • Coffee shops are adding chargers to become the go-to stop. • Fast food brands are attaching prime charging locations. Retailers already spend millions to increase foot traffic and dwell time. But the smartest ones will route customers right to their doors. With Chargetrip preferential routing, retailers and CPOs can integrate EV routing into their apps and commit millions of engaged EV drivers to their locations before they even start driving. Imagine some of the biggest loyalty programs in the world becoming charge cards. Save points by charging, earning double points at specific locations, and earning a free coffee—an EV driver's dream. If you're a retailer or CPO, let's chat - DM me. And for everyone else - I am interested, how do you see EV charging shaping retail in the next five years? Next week, I'll discuss the massive charging opportunities for credit card companies.

EV charging isn’t a utility play. It’s a business model. If you’re just thinking in cents per kilowatt-hour, you’re missing the big picture and the big profits. Here are 5 real revenue streams that smart EV charging operators are already cashing in on: 1. Energy Arbitrage Buy cheap, sell smart. With time-of-use rates and wholesale access, charging operators can exploit spread pricing, especially when paired with on-site battery storage and smart load shifting. 👉 In markets like California and Texas, this can mean up to 40–60% margin improvement. 2. Dynamic Pricing Surge pricing isn’t just for Ubers. With API-driven tariff engines, you can adjust pricing based on time, load, weather, or station occupancy. Some European operators using real-time pricing models have reported 25–35% increases in revenue per charger, while also reducing congestion during peak hours. 3. Retail & Amenity Revenue DC fast charging = captive audience. A typical session lasts 20–40 minutes, prime time to drive foot traffic to shops, cafes, or services. Big players like Target and Starbucks already co-locate for this reason. A well-placed charger can generate $2–5 in retail profit for every $1 in charging revenue. 4. Fleet Contracts Fleets don’t want chargers. They want uptime. Private depots and public hubs can lock in multi-year agreements with logistics, ride-share, and utility fleets. Bundling charging + service + software turns CapEx-heavy hardware into recurring revenue with 10–15% EBITDA potential. 5. Grid Services Load shedding, demand response, V2G, these are real value streams. Operators can earn $50–150 per charger per year in demand response programs alone (source: NREL, EPRI). As V2G scales, these payouts could double or triple especially for fleet and depot use cases. The real winners in EV charging won’t just move electrons. They’ll move margin, dwell time, customer data, and recurring revenue. Don’t build a charging station. Build a business. #EVCharging #EVROI #ChargingEconomics #SmartCharging #FleetElectrification #V2G #EnergyStrategy #InfrastructureMatters #ChargingBusiness

Some of the best EV charging opportunities get rejected by major CPOs. ⚡ Wild, right? Big CPOs have a formula. If your property isn't sandwiched between a warehouse club and a six-lane highway, you're out. If you only own a hand full of properties, you're out. If you own a neighborhood retail center or a smaller commercial property, you have an edge. You know your tenants and community better than any algorithm. You know who visits, how long they stay, and why they return. 🏪 CPOs love flashy locations. But most EV drivers aren't looking for spectacle. They're looking for places that fit their routine. Grocery runs. Dry cleaning. Ten minutes at a sandwich shop. That's where the real traffic happens. 🚗 You don't have to wait for some analyst to pick your site out of a data set. You can: - Map your property's real traffic - Chart out dwell times by storefront - Ask tenants what would keep customers coming back one more time per week Partner directly with solution providers who think beyond the CPO checklist. Some will help you design a charging solution that fits your actual flow, not just traffic stats. Here's the truth: the best EV charging sites blend into the background. They're hiding in plain sight, waiting for someone who lives that reality to speak up. 👀 So if your property is missing from "the formula," good. That means it's still your secret. What's one thing about your property that the spreadsheets always miss? Drop your answer. Let's rewrite the CPO playbook.

While my heart is in sustainability, I will always have the mind of a marketer. It is with that marketer's mind that I think about EV charging... if businesses think about it as an infrastructure project they are missing the big picture. This is a marketing investment. At a high level, what are marketing's core goals? ✔️ Attract new customers ✔️ Increase spend per engagement ✔️ Create strong customer loyalty to drive lifetime value Having EV chargers is an incredibly powerful marketing tool to accomplish these goals. ✔️ Being a charging destination quite literally puts you on the map(s) of EV drivers as they search for places to charge ✔️ Drivers must wait while they charge and will spend more per visit during this time ✔️ In many areas, the demand for charging is outpacing the supply, so having chargers now puts your business at a competitive advantage ✔️ For EV drivers, having the ability to charge is a necessity, so being a charging destination puts your business in front of potential customers with a high intent to visit ✔️ Finding places to charge is refreshing people's travel patterns - those who offer charging now stand the best chance at building long term loyalty As an EV driver, I am finding myself changing my travel patterns - going to places I have never gone before and abandoning businesses who don't offer charging. It is not even preference, more often than not, this is a decision based on practicality. My marketer's mind is constantly thinking about how these businesses I now frequent "hooked" me simply because they have chargers. And for the businesses I no longer visit, they will never know why I am gone. Marketers - next time you look at your ad budget just hoping you get in front of the right person, think about becoming a charging destination knowing you will get in front of a growing demographic. Want to learn more? Check out Lynkwell's latest white paper on EV charging as a powerful marketing tool: https://lnkd.in/gk3WNcVJ

One of the main differences between EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles is the number and complexity of components. EVs have fewer moving parts and fluids, which reduces the need for frequent oil changes, spark plugs, filters, belts, hoses, and other common service items. A study by the Center for Automotive Research estimated that the typical automotive dealer will suffer a 35% decline in maintenance and service revenue for an EV versus an ICE vehicle over a five-year period. This means that service shops will have to find new sources of income or reduce their costs to remain profitable. Another difference is the type and level of skills required to service EVs. EVs have high-voltage batteries, electric motors, and sophisticated electronic systems that require specialized tools, equipment, and training. According to a survey by IMR, only 27.5% of independent repair shops have invested in tools and equipment to service EVs, and only 30.5% have invested in training for their technicians. Moreover, some EV manufacturers limit the access to their diagnostic software and parts, making it harder for independent shops to compete with authorized dealers. A practice Cenntro Electric Group (CENN) does not participate in, just saying! However, not all service items are reduced or eliminated by the shift to EVs. Some components, such as tires, brakes, and suspension, are still subject to wear and tear, and may even require more frequent replacement due to the higher weight and torque of EVs. For example, an on-demand tire replacement service reported that its EV customers come back for tire replacements 30% more often than ICE vehicle owners. Therefore, service shops can focus on these areas to increase their revenue and customer loyalty. Additionally, service shops can take advantage of the growing demand for EV-related services, such as battery testing, replacement, and recycling, charging station installation and maintenance, and software updates and upgrades. These services can provide new revenue streams and differentiate service shops from their competitors. Furthermore, service shops can leverage their existing customer base and reputation to market and advertise their EV service capabilities, as many EV owners may not be aware of the options available to them. In conclusion, EVs are changing the future of the automotive service industry, as they have different maintenance and repair needs than conventional vehicles. Service shops will have to adapt to these changes by investing in tools, equipment, and training, finding new sources of income or reducing their costs, and offering new and innovative services to attract and retain EV customers. By doing so, service shops can not only survive, but thrive in the EV era. #serviceshop #autoservice #autorepairshop #ev #evehicles #fleetmanagers #fleet #fleetsolutions

A flurry of new studies have come out recently to reveal what our customers have been telling us for a while: EV charging is good for retail business! This study published in Nature Communications analyzed data from over 140,000 business establishments and found that installing one charger boosts annual spending at establishments within 100 yards by about 3%. "Public EVCS tend to attract higher-income, exploratory visitors, and local residents. Moreover, they notably enhance businesses in underprivileged areas, defined as disadvantaged and/or low-income areas designated by both California and Justice40, indicating the importance of expanding EVCS in such communities." https://lnkd.in/ezjeEEi8

I recently wrote a blog to highlight the bright future of EV charging at convenience stores (C-Stores). By 2035, North America is anticipated to host 78.5 million EVs, leading to a surge in demand for charging stations. This trend opens up a lucrative opportunity for C-Stores and in addition for traditional retailers, and real estate firms to capitalize on EV charging . There lies a potential for monetizing parking spaces. Data reveals that EV owners outspend gasoline vehicle drivers at gas stations. With EV adoption set to skyrocket by 1,644%, many C-Stores have already embraced EV charging services. Yet, success lies not only in availability but in delivering a seamless, personalized, and value-centric charging experience. To position themselves as the go-to charging hubs, C-Stores can: - Establish transparent pricing structures - Provide route optimization and booking systems - Invest in top-notch chargers - Target underserved "charging deserts" Going beyond mere availability, C-Stores can enhance the charging journey with culinary delights, amenities, and tailored promotions. The competition is fierce to emerge as the premier choice for EV charging. For more insights and recommendations for industry leaders, delve into Cognizant's detailed analysis: [C-Store EV Charging Revenue Opportunity] https://lnkd.in/grgzFiQs