ChargeStop looks to upgrade the convenience of EV charging
For all the excitement of driving a cutting-edge electric vehicle, charging it can be an underwhelming experience. You drive about looking for a charging hub and then you plug in and wait.
Tim Murphy, CEO of ChargeStop Technologies Inc. looks to change that with the opening in Edmonton of what is the first of what he says will be a franchise-based EV service station concept that will roll out across Canada.
Located at 8106 99 St. NW, just a half block south of Whyte Ave. this ChargeStop location features a modular design that can be sized to fit into a variety of locations and offers electric vehicle owners not only a convenient place to charge their vehicles but gives them an elevated retail convenience experience as well.
“The idea we had [with partner Jean-Paul Demeria, chief growth officer] was to create an EV station experience that would be different that an experience at a convenience store and a gas station experience,” Murphy says. An experience at a convenience store or gas station with EV charging does not make a person who owns such a vehicle feel special or unique, he adds.
And that is what ChargeStop wants to change.
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Murphy says that ChargeStop allows a vehicle owner to use an app to book a charging time thereby ensuring that a charging spot is ready for them. When they arrive, they can then plug their vehicle into a one of several Level-3 charging terminals made to provide up to an 85% charge for most EVs in about 20 minutes – ChargeStop offers charging support for most electric vehicles on the road today, from Tesla, Ford and General Motors to Polestar, Rivian, Genesis and Jaguar to name several others. While waiting for their vehicle to charge, the owner can use the lounge inside the station to relax or work using the high-speed Wi-Fi and purchase something to eat and drink from what Murphy describes as an elevated convenience food selection.
“We are working with local [food and drink] providers for our foods at the location in order to provide people with a lot more interesting choices and a lot more healthier choices,” Murphy adds. “It is not going to be the old microwave burrito or a fried corn dog that you sometimes see. For example, for lunch, we are going to be offering freshly made Vietnamese subs, and we are working with a local ice cream makers in Edmonton to provide unique ice cream offerings.”
Murphy adds that as ChargeStop expands the number of locations – Charge
Stop is looking to franchise partners to open other locations across Canada later this year and next – the food offerings will reflect the offerings of local suppliers in the areas, again making the location enticing to electric vehicle owners.
“Our goal is to make our offerings as fresh, local and high-quality as possible,” he adds. “It is not going to be the same foods you see wrapped in plastic that comes from a manufacturing plant somewhere. We want to offer choices that are better and align with the values of the vehicle owners.”
