The White House on Thursday said it would hand out $1.7 billion to help convert closed-down or at-risk auto manufacturing and assembly facilities to make electric and hybrid vehicles.

The funding comes as growth in new electric vehicle sales has slowed, even as the Biden administration wants to keep US EV manufacturers competitive with a surging Chinese industry. Just earlier this year President Joe Biden quadrupled tariffs on electric vehicles from China.

Read more at CNN

The site features a Megawatt Charging System, equipped with two separate charging arms, one for each type of vehicle.

Shell inaugurated its first self-developed megawatt charger for dual use by both electric trucks and shipping vessels at the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam (ETCA). 

With a charging capacity of about three 350 kW regular fast chargers, the megawatt charger is connected to ETCA’s own microgrid, enabling an integration between energy supply, storage, and demand. The ETCA microgrid includes 3,600 rooftop solar panels, stationary battery storage, 119 EV chargers for cars, a hydrogen electrolyser and other research equipment.

Read more at MobilityPlaza

Gen Z consumers looking for retail locations with electric vehicle charging station, Intouch Insight says

The presence of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations at convenience stores is becoming a key factor for younger consumers, according to a new report from customer experience solutions company Intouch Insight, Ottawa, Ontario.

More than 40% of the report’s Gen Z respondents ages 18-24, and 34% of consumers 18-44, would select a retail location with an EV charging station, according to Convenience Store Trends Report 2024: Powering the Next Era of Convenience Stores.

Read more at CSP Daily News

The future of Tesla Supercharging is uncertain following CEO Elon Musk’s disbanding of the Supercharging team as part of a broader restructuring. The roughly 500 layoffs included senior director of EV charging Rebecca Tinucci and Daniel Ho, director of vehicle programs.

Musk’s abrupt decision has raised concerns about the future of Tesla’s EV charging system, which has grown to be one of the largest EV charging networks in the world, with more than 55,000 charging ports, according to the company.

Read more at CNBC

The move to expand comes soon after Tesla disbanded its EV charging team.

bp is looking to expand its U.S. electric vehicle (EV) charging unit following news that Tesla abruptly disbanded its own EV charging team.

“We are aggressively looking to acquire real estate to scale our network, which is a heightened focus following the recent Tesla announcement,” a spokesperson for bp said in a statement.

bp will prioritize its focus in the Northeast, West Coast, across and Sun Belt and in the Great Lakes region, the spokesperson added.

Read more at Convenience Store News

CSP speaks with tech provider about what convenience stores need to consider when investing in electric vehicle charging stations

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to rise in popularity among drivers and fleets, Owl Services, a design, engineering and construction service provider to the petroleum and clean energy markets, works directly with convenience stores and other partners to provide the latest EV infrastructure and deploy reliable charging solutions.

CSP spoke with Dave Patrick, vice president of emobility at Troy, Michigan-based Owl Services, about the future of electric vehicles.

Read more at CSP Daily News

With five new chargers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the convenience retailer has grown its charging station count from one to six essentially overnight.

When Atlanta-based RaceTrac debuted EV charging at its lone convenience store in Oxford, Alabama, last October, the convenience retailer said that was “only the beginning” of its EV charging journey and that it would “expand its EV charging network” over the coming months and years.

“As a fuel provider — no matter the type — RaceTrac will meet the evolving needs of its guests and America’s motorists,” former CEO Max McBrayer said at the time.

That sentiment hasn’t changed. RaceTrac’s spokesperson said on Monday that the company will continue to roll out EV charging stations strategically across its existing c-store footprint, which includes nearly 800 RaceTrac and RaceWay convenience stores across 13 states.

Read more at C-Store Dive

Fuel brand partners with Folk Oil’s PS Food Mart convenience store in Battle Creek, Michigan

CITGO Petroleum Corp. and fuel marketer Folk Oil Co., operating under the name PS Food Mart, have launched an electric vehicle (EV) charging pilot program at a convenience store in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The PS Food Mart at 15551 11 Mile Road offers regular transportation fuel and EV charging stations. EV chargers include both Combined Charging System (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs, Houston-based CITGO said.

Read more at CSP Daily News

Construction will begin on a second Circle K charging site in Kentucky later this year.

The first electric vehicle (EV) fast charger in the Southeast United States to be built with federal funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program broke ground at a Richmond Circle K site on Feb. 19. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Federal Highway Administration Administrator Shailen Bhatt and several state and local officials gathered for the event.

The location is one of two Circle K sites in Kentucky to receive funding.

Read more at Convenience Store News

Automakers went all in on battery power, but buyers have proven more hesitant

Read more at The Wall Street Journal