7-Eleven to install 500 electric vehicle charging ports by end of 2022
7-Eleven, Inc. is accelerating its environmental ambitions with plans to build at least 500 Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports at 250 select store in Canada and the U.S. by the end of 2022.
The ports will be owned and operated by 7-Eleven, adding to its existing network of 22 charging stations located at 14 stores in four states. The company said that once this expansion is complete, it "will have one of the largest and most compatible fast-charging systems of any retailer in the U.S."
"7-Eleven has always been a leader in new ideas and technology to better serve the needs of our customers," said 7-Eleven president and CEO Joe DePinto. "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."
In addition, the company is unveiling deeper sustainability goals. The company recently "doubled-down" on its original commitment and pledged to meet a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030. In 2016. 7-Eleven laid out measurable sustainability goals to help address the climate change. The original plans was to achieve a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions from its stores by 2027, however 7-Eleven reports that reached this 20% reduction goal in 2019, eight years ahead of schedule.
7-Eleven is actively seeking renewable energy solutions for its stores across the United States. For instance, it is purchasing 100% wind energy for more than 800 Texas stores and more than 300 Illinois stores. Additional renewable energy purchases include 150 stores using hydropower in Virginia, as well as 300 Florida stores powered by solar energy.
"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."