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EV Charging: The $151bn Opportunity for Fuel Retailers

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Key Takeaways

The global EV and plug-in hybrid fleet is forecast to grow six-fold between 2025 and 2035, with almost half of that expansion arriving by 2030.
ABI Research forecasts the EV charging market will reach $63.5bn by 2030 and $151bn by 2035, and fuel retailers are well placed to benefit from it.
Forecourts are ranked as the most desirable EV charging location and government initiatives in the US and Europe prioritize near-highway installations that align with existing forecourts. Two thirds of NEVI funding has been awarded to fuel retailers.
Charging shifts the economics toward higher-margin, non-fuel revenue. Dwell times average 35 minutes versus five for refuelling, and McKinsey found EV drivers are 45% more likely to enter the C-store and spend 25% more on food.
As the market matures, drivers expect charging to be as reliable as refuelling. Tightening uptime regulations and rising complexity are pushing operators toward AI, with 72% of CPOs considering it for anomaly detection and network stability.
A charge point management system (CPMS) that maximises uptime, supports multi-vendor hardware, and integrates with existing forecourt payments, loyalty, and POS systems lets retailers deliver that experience and scale for future demand.

Fuel retail is experiencing a paradigm shift, with few trends set to disrupt the traditional business model as much as electric vehicles.

Electricity is quickly becoming an essential part of a more energy-diverse forecourt. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is forecasting a six-fold growth in the global electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle fleet between 2025 and 2035, with almost half of that expansion due by 2030.

Although electrification introduces new competition as drivers plug in at homes, workplaces and destinations, fuel retailers are well placed to benefit from a market that ABI Research forecasts will reach $63.5bn by 2030 and $151bn by 2035, while playing an important role in that transition. Here’s how.

Location, location, location

Convenience is a cornerstone of fuel retail, and forecourts often located where traffic is highest – such as urban areas and close to busy roads – and those sites are just as relevant for EV drivers. Forecourts ranked as the most desirable locations for EV charging in a recent Oliver Wyman survey, while Gilbarco Veeder-Root research found European drivers would pay 36% more for charging to avoid a five-minute detour.

Government initiatives in the United States and Europe prioritising near-highway installations that align well with existing forecourts. The US National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula program provides up to 80% towards installation costs, and two thirds of funding has been awarded to fuel retailers. Chargers at C-stores recorded the fastest growth in utilization and charging sessions during 2025, according to the latest US Charging Analytics Report, while ABI Research claims 78% of global charging revenue came from the fastest DC charging points.

Forward-thinking fuel retailers are already investing. Shell, BP and 7-Eleven are building large charging networks in the United States, while Circle-K opened its first EV-only forecourt in Sweden in 2025. Charging will become an increasingly important way to attract new customers, while retaining existing drivers who have recently moved to electric vehicles.

Monetizing longer dwell times

The fuel retail business model is already changing, and charging offers indirect revenue streams with higher profit margins than selling liquid fuels.

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), fuel contributed for 65% of revenue but only 39% of profit in 2025, and that gap is expected to widen. KPMG forecasts 80% of fuel retail profit could come from non-fuel products and services by the mid-2030s.

EV charging introduces longer dwell times – averaging 35 minutes compared to five for filling with fuel – while only 25% of European drivers surveyed by Gilbarco Veeder-Root said they stay in the car while plugged in. This enhances the opportunities for non-fuel revenue. Recent McKinsey analysis found EV drivers were 45% more likely to enter the C-store than those filling with fuel, with a 25% higher spend on food.

Integration is key

As the EV market moves beyond the early adopter phase, drivers will increasingly expect charging to be as easy and reliable as filling with fuel.

Regulations in the US, UK and Australia are already setting strict uptime standards for charge point operators (CPOs), requiring faster fault resolution. Driivz’s 2026 State of EV Charging Network Operators Report found 72% of CPOs are considering utilizing artificial intelligence to detect anomalies in their network and optimize stability and reliability. Meanwhile, 37% of C-stores are integrating EV charging with their loyalty programs, encouraging drivers to stay on-site while plugged in.

The Driivz charge point management system (CPMS) empowers fuel retailers to deliver that experience. It helps maximize uptime, supports hardware from multiple vendors and integrates with familiar forecourt retail systems – such as payments, loyalty programs and point-of-sale equipment.

Importantly, it can also enable sites to scale for future demand and adapt quickly to new standards and regulations, ensuring fuel retailers are equipped to continue evolving in a market where disruption is the only certainty.

Noam Raz

Noam is a Marketing Manager at Driivz, where she brings extensive experience in content creation, event planning, and brand development to the fast-evolving world of e-mobility. With a background in cybersecurity and technology marketing, she excels at turning complex ideas into compelling stories that drive engagement and impact. Passionate about sustainability, Noam is proud to contribute to Driivz’s mission of accelerating the global transition to cleaner, smarter transportation.