Photo credit: @jp.media

In all, 250 7-Eleven stores in Canada and the U.S. are set to receive DC fast chargers this year or next as part of the retailer’s strategy to cut emissions by half

North American convenience giant 7-Eleven has announced a plan to roll out at least 500 DC fast charging ports for electric vehicles at 250 select Canadian and U.S. stores by the end of 2022. Included in that number will be the 22 chargers already currently operational at 14 7-Eleven stores across the United States.

7-Eleven has yet to announce how many of those chargers are bound for Canada or when the first ones will be constructed. The chain currently operates more than 600 stores in Canada, with more than two-thirds of them in Alberta and B.C.

Company-wide, a network of 500 chargers, each of which will be owned and operated by 7-Eleven, could be among the largest fast-charging networks owned by a retailer in the U.S.

Community commitment

“7‑Eleven has always been a leader in new ideas and technology to better serve the needs of our customers,” said Joe DePinto, 7‑Eleven president and CEO, in a press release. “Adding 500 charging ports at 250 7‑Eleven stores will make EV charging more convenient and help accelerate broader adoption of EVs and alternative fuels. We are committed to the communities we serve and to working toward a more sustainable future.”

“7‑Eleven’s legacy is bringing convenience to the customer, and that continues to evolve — from ice on a dock in 1927 to electricity for your car today,” said DePinto. “7‑Eleven’s rapid expansion of EV charging ports across the country is good for our customers and our planet and it’s the right thing to do.”

The move to expand EV charging is part of 7-Eleven’s larger strategy to make a 50 per cent reduction in its CO2 emissions by 2030. It is also purchasing 100 per cent wind power for more than 1,100 of its stores in Texas and Illinois, and additional renewable energy for over 450 stores in Florida and Virginia.