How Retailers Can Make EV Charging More Profitable

Many retailers have taken meaningful steps towards promoting electric vehicle adoption by upgrading the customer experience with EV charging stations. In doing so, they add value to every visit while bringing in a steady source of additional revenue.

But inconsistent charger access, high charging fees, and other common driver complaints can make retailers appear a step behind. Here we look at solid strategies for getting the most out of EV charging and how refining the details can elevate those EV efforts.

On‑site EV charging sends a strong signal to customers who value brands that prioritize customer convenience and provide valuable amenities.

By installing public charging stations, you contribute to the community’s charging infrastructure, highlight your commitment to your customers, and create a new stream of revenue.

Wrap your Hypercharge stations with your branding to create a visible link between your business and EV charging.

Many retailers invest heavily in EV charging but miss the final step of enthusiastically promoting their chargers. Highlight EV charging prominently on your website, social channels, and in newsletters. Ensure your station information is up-to-date including access restrictions and opening times.

EV charging powers customer loyalty strategy by encouraging regular visits. With Eevion™ for Loyalty Programs, Hypercharge’s cloud-based middleware platform, you can directly integrate EV charging into your store’s loyalty program and existing app, platform, or system. With Eevion™, you can offer:

• Points-based rewards for every charging session
• Complimentary or discounted charging as a perk of program membership
• Complimentary or discounted charging as a reward for meeting a points threshold
• A seamless, branded single pane of glass interface that simplifies the user experience

Bringing customers back through EV charging requires a reasonable expectation that their charging needs will be met.

That means installing enough chargers and matching charging speeds to the typical dwell time at your business. Level 2 charging stations, such as the sleek Hypercharge Halo, add about 50 kilometres in driving range per hour of charging.

That can be sufficient for a top-up, but Level 2 charging is generally better suited to locations with longer dwell times, such as large shopping malls, salons/spas, or gyms.

Where faster speeds are essential, DC fast chargers, such as the powerful Alpitronic HYC series, can fully replenish a battery in 30 minutes or less.

Charging fees generate reliable revenue and can help retailers recover installation, maintenance, and electricity costs.

With Quantev™ Operations Suite, our cloud-based management and analytics platform, you can organize users into groups with customized and dynamic charging fees and harness historical data to better understand users’ charging habits.

Revenue from EV charging comes from two sources: income from charging fees and drawing customers to your business.

Focusing exclusively on charging fees can lead to setting prices too high, sending drivers to cheaper options nearby.

Taking a more holistic view of how EV charging supports your business can guide you towards more realistic and effective charging rates.

Meticulous site design is essential for placing chargers where they’re most visible, accessible, and compatible with traffic flow, which often requires upgrades to the underlying electrical infrastructure.

Hypercharge specializes in creating custom solutions, such as battery-integrated chargers and load-sharing technology that can make the most of existing energy capacity.

Poor site design can lead to higher costs, insufficient power supply, and less reliable network connections.

Hypercharge partners with experienced electrical contractors to build efficient, dependable, future-ready charging sites.

With our EV Ready Plan, you’ll get an in-depth site assessment, electrical planning report, tailored hardware and software guidance, and a realistic budget.