If you run a gas station, you already know the margin game. Gasoline doesn’t pay the bills — snacks, coffee, and impulse buys do. But EVs change the rules. Longer dwell times, lower competition, and better charging margins make this the most profitable shift the industry has seen in decades.
By 2030, EVs are projected to make up over 50% of new car sales in the U.S. Industry leaders including Shell, Circle K, Sheetz, and Wawa are already adding EV chargers at their locations, particularly on major travel routes. This guide shows what works — and what to avoid — based on the experience of these and other forward-thinking operators.
How Leading Gas Stations in Europe Turned EV Into Revenue
Unlike a petrol pump, an EV charger is not plug-and-play. It’s a digital, dynamic asset that needs to be managed daily.
The most successful operators know this isn’t just about plugging in new equipment. Many who tried outsourcing quickly realized it meant losing control over pricing, branding, and support. Others underestimated the complexity of managing roaming, OCPP protocols, or load balancing, only to find themselves fielding complaints and system failures they didn’t fully understand.
That’s why the winning move is to equip your internal team or work closely with a software partner who knows EV charging inside and out — not just how to install hardware, but how to make it profitable, scalable, and reliable every day.
Uno-X rolled out over 1,000 DC chargers across Denmark and Norway with Monta, manageing pricing, uptime, user experience, and payments — all in one place. That’s what scalability looks like.
“We're proud to partner with Monta, the leading software company in the EV charging industry. Together, Monta and UNO-X are making it easier for everyone to drive EVs. By integrating cutting-edge technology and unparalleled accessibility, we're powering a greener, more sustainable future for all,” Bo Bendixen, CFO at Uno-X
Redesign Your Gas Stations for EV Drivers
EV drivers stay longer. That means your site layout and store experience matter more than ever. Top-performing sites focus on:
- Dedicated EV lanes that don’t interfere with fuel traffic
- Extra space and functionality for cars to line up for charging during busy times, like long weekends or holiday road trips
- Visibility: live pricing and availability displayed on roadside signage
- In-store upgrades that make waiting a profit opportunity (comfortable seating, food, Wi-Fi)
Don’t Underestimate EV Hardware Decisions
Choosing charging hardware is a strategic decision. The wrong hardware leads to outages, unhappy drivers, and lost revenue.
Look for:
- Brands with multi-year field performance and serviceability
- Full OCPP compliance
- Easy-to-use UI, fast repairs, and flexible integration with your preferred software
Resist bundled vendor solutions that lock you into one hardware and software ecosystem. Uno-X chose a modular approach and now runs a large network with full control.
Consider Grid Impacts
EV charging puts a new kind of pressure on your site. Grid costs can spiral if unmanaged.
With smart load balancing:
- You avoid overpaying for peak capacity
- You balance usage across multiple chargers and sites
- You delay costly infrastructure upgrades
Monta operators typically run 150–200 kW chargers. It’s more than enough for today’s vehicles, and efficient enough to scale.
Get Drivers Using Your Chargers and Coming Back
Visibility and simplicity drive utilization. Operators who get this right:
- Make payment effortless (app, NFC, card reader, QR)
- Show real-time charging status
- Provide 24/7 multilingual support
Utilization grows fastest when drivers trust your site and tell others. That’s why great support and reliability matter more than flashy speeds.
Add loyalty perks:
- Discounts on in-store purchases after charging
- Charge packages for fleets or repeat users
Reliability: The Metric That Matters Most
Unlike traditional gas pumps, EV chargers fail more frequently and chargers being down can quickly impact your brand and revenue. Uptime means more than just being "online."
Top operators monitor:
- Session success rates (not just availability)
- Failure patterns and root causes (cable issues, payment faults)
- Real-time data across locations
Monta provides alerts for anything unusual — even drops in kWh sold per site. That kind of visibility is why leading brands stick with us.
Profitability Isn’t Just About Electricity Margins
Charging margins can reach $0.30 per kWh — far better than fuel. But that’s just the start.
There are several ways to turn charging into a profit center beyond just kWh margins. Dynamic pricing during high-demand periods allows you to protect margin and better manage flow. Grid balancing programs can earn you incentives for adjusting energy use at key times. In-store media screens or advertising create new revenue streams. And creative cross-promotions — like bundling a meal deal with a charge — increase retail spend while boosting charger use.
Operators like QuickTrip are discovering that layering in too many third parties gets in the way. Owning the charging experience drives both control and margin.
Managing Revenue Streams Without the Headache
EV revenue is fragmented. You’re dealing with roaming partners, app providers, fleet deals, and on-site payments.
Operators need:
- One dashboard for all payment methods and partners
- Automated reconciliation and pricing updates
- Refund handling and transaction transparency
Monta ties it all together so you don’t need a full-time finance person for every station.
Scaling Efficiently
If you're running one site now, prepare to manage ten. And if you have ten, you’ll want to scale to fifty.
You’ll need:
- Remote firmware updates
- Real-time issue diagnosis
- Smart alerts for proactive fixes
- Centralized dashboards for pricing, load, and support
Uno-X is doing this across two countries — without tripling their headcount. That’s the difference when you choose a scalable platform.
Conclusion: The Energy Transition Is Here—Are You Ready?
EV charging isn’t the future. It’s already reshaping retail fueling. The gas stations that win will be those who:
- Move early
- Own their user experience
- Get smarter with every site they add
You already run high-volume real estate. You know how to attract and serve drivers. Now it’s time to turn that skillset into your next big revenue stream.
Let’s build the next 1,000 sites — smarter, faster, and with your brand in the driver’s seat.
