Dive Brief:
- Royal Farms is expanding its electric vehicle charging network across its home state of Maryland, according to a recent announcement.
- The retailer is partnering with manufacturer Electrify America, which will bring its Hyper-Fast chargers to eight locations in Halethrope, Oxon Hill, Annapolis, Catonsville, Charlotte Hall, Columbia, Pikesville and Towson.
- Royal Farms has made significant strides with its EV charging program in recent years, building out the infrastructure with multiple manufacturers across multiple states.
Dive Insight:
Royal Farms has offered EV charging for about a decade, but ramped up its investment in 2023 with plans to install 30 new chargers across nearly 20 c-stores across Maryland and Delaware. Those plans continued earlier this year when Royal Farms said it expected to reach 100 EV chargers with charging infrastructure company Blink across the two states. It had deployed roughly 76 chargers across 23 stores at the time.
With its latest rollout, Baltimore-based Royal Farms — whose c-store network also includes over 300 locations across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina — said the stations in Halethorpe and Oxon Hill are already up and running. Each charger is capable of speeds up to 350 kilowatts and can charge a vehicle in as little as 20 minutes.
“Our partnership with Electrify America brings high-speed EV charging to the locations our customers already visit for fuel, food, and convenience,” said Thomas Ruszin, fuel and environmental leader at Royal Farms. “These new stations make it easier for drivers to choose electric without sacrificing speed or comfort, while reinforcing our commitment to accessibility and progress.”
Drivers can pay for their charging sessions by credit or debit card, via Electrify America’s Plug&Charge payment technology or through the manufacturer’s mobile app. The app lets users locate a charger, find pricing, initiate a charge and check charging progress.
