Dive Brief:
- Sheetz has partnered with industrial manufacturing company Vontier to bring the latter’s electric vehicle charging software to its convenience stores, the companies announced this week.
- The cloud-based platform, Driivz, lets Sheetz “remotely address charger issues in real-time” and provides loyalty rewards, session tracking and digital receipts, according to the announcement. Driivz also offers on-site energy management “to balance loads in real time and optimize charging performance.”
- Sheetz has continually invested in its EV charging infrastructure even as many convenience operators across the U.S. hesitate to fully embrace the trend.
Dive Insight:
Sheetz, which operates more than 800 convenience stores across seven states, surpassed 2 million EV charging sessions across its network in mid-2023. In late 2024, the retailer revealed it was building “Rechargery” stations that include multiple high-power EV charging bays sheltered under Sheetz-red canopies. Today, the company has more than 125 charging stations across its c-store network, according to the announcement.
With its Driivz partnership, Sheetz is once again signaling that EV charging is a core tenet of its business. Although the platform is run by Driivz, it is considered Sheetz’s own charging solution, according to the announcement.
“EV drivers already choose our stores because of the amenities and services we provide,” said Trevor Walter, executive vice president of petroleum supply management at Sheetz. “This partnership allows us to build on that trust — making charging a seamless extension of the Sheetz experience, while delivering the same consistency and value customers expect each time they visit.”
Vontier already provides the infrastructure for Sheetz’s fuel dispensers, automatic tank gauges and submersible turbine pumps.
“What Sheetz is doing is a real-world example of energy expansion and how we are meeting our customers where they are on their energy journey,” said Mark Morelli, president and CEO of Vontier. “It’s a blueprint for how successful companies can deploy EV charging as part of their overall energy solution and provide a consistent customer experience across the forecourt.”
