Citgo Petroleum Corporation and long-time marketer Folk Oil Company recently launched a pilot program for electric vehicle (EV) charging designed to meet the needs of EV drivers in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The Citgo location at 15551 11 Mile Road now offers both regular transportation fuel and EV charging stations, the company said. For added convenience, EV chargers include both Charging System (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs.
“As a marketer, we need to provide offerings that meet all types of transportation needs for our consumers,” Jim Linton, Folk Oil president, said in a news release. “So we appreciate how Citgo is approaching the EV space in a way that ensures its Marketers’ success. Working together we were able to pinpoint the best location to launch this program.”
Citgo devised an internal model to assess the viability of EV sites and collaborated with national electrical company AGI for implementation, the company stated. The turnkey solutions provider will work with stores throughout the entire process and facilitate access to available grants via the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, the Inflation Reduction Act, and U.S. Department of Transportation’s Utilities.
Kevin Kinny, Citgo general manager of brand equity, says Citgo’s approach differs from the conventional industry approach to electrification. “Instead of a store receiving a monthly rent for EV charger installation, the Citgo program provides upfront assistance, while still giving the marketer full ownership of the installed EV charger.”
Added Brad Hinkley, vice president of business development for AGI’s ELM division: “In addition to our turnkey solutions, we offer an extensive range of EV charger brands, giving Citgo marketers the flexibility to choose the best solution for their site.
“With so many moving parts in the EV space, we’re here to provide a streamlined program that covers everything from charger selection to post-installation maintenance.”