Should Your Service Station Offer EV Charging?

Electric vehicles now account for close to 15 per cent of new car sales in Australia, nearly double the share recorded just a year ago, and the public charging network has grown to more than 5,000 sites nationally. Ampol is rolling out its AmpCharge network at pace, BP Pulse is expanding across the eastern states, and even shopping centres and local councils are installing chargers. For independent service station operators, the question is no longer whether EV charging is coming. It is whether your site should be part of it.

The business case depends heavily on location and customer profile. Highway and regional sites on major travel routes are the most natural fit for fast DC charging, because EV drivers on long trips need to stop and charge for 20 to 40 minutes. That dwell time creates a genuine opportunity to drive shop sales, coffee purchases and food. A customer who would normally pay for fuel and leave is now spending half an hour on your site. That is a fundamentally different commercial opportunity.

Metropolitan and suburban sites have a different equation. Many urban EV owners charge at home overnight and rarely need public charging. The exception is drivers without off street parking, renters and those on longer suburban trips. If your site serves a mix of residential and commercial traffic, there may be demand, but it is worth understanding the local EV ownership profile before committing.

The costs involved are significant and should not be underestimated. A single DC fast charger capable of delivering a meaningful charge in a reasonable time frame can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 installed, depending on the power output and the electrical infrastructure required at your site. Grid connection upgrades can add substantially to that cost. For most independent operators, this is not a decision to make lightly, and it is worth exploring whether any state or federal grants are available to offset the capital outlay.

There are also operational considerations. EV chargers require maintenance, software management and a reliable internet connection. Most charging networks operate on a revenue share or hosting model, where a third party installs and maintains the equipment and the site owner receives a fee or a share of the charging revenue. This can reduce the financial risk, but it also limits the upside. Understanding the terms of these agreements is critical before signing anything.

The competitive picture is also worth watching. If a major branded site down the road installs fast chargers and you do not, you may lose a growing segment of customers who choose their stops based on charging availability. On the other hand, if your site is in an area already well served by public chargers, the investment may not deliver a return.

EV charging is not yet a necessity for every independent service station, but it is moving in that direction. The operators who start thinking about it now, understanding their site’s suitability, the costs involved and the commercial models available, will be better positioned to act when the timing is right. Ignoring the transition entirely carries its own risk.