From petrol pumps to power hubs: Circle K’s EV charging reinvention

What does it take for a legacy fuel retailer to stay relevant in a battery-powered world? In Episode 22 of The Charge Point Podcast, FLEXECHARGE’s Christophe Lephilibert speaks with Hallgeir Horne, Energy Management Specialist at Circle K, about how the company is strategically pivoting from fossil fuels to EV infrastructure without losing its core advantage: premium locations and customer convenience.

From battery storage deployments to load-balanced hypercharges, Circle K is showing what real-world electrification looks like at scale.

Key takeaways

Legacy Retailers have a location advantage

Circle K leverages its extensive network of roadside stops already optimised for driver convenience. These aren’t just petrol stations anymore. They’re becoming EV pit stops with food, restrooms, and shopping, transforming the waiting time into added value.

Energy Management is the new fuel strategy

Circle K uses load balancing and energy management software to avoid over-investing in grid upgrades. For example, instead of installing 3.2 MW for 8x 400kW chargers, they use just 1.5 MW without compromising user experience.

“Load management isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s our license to operate.” — Hallgeir Horne

Battery Storage is no longer optional

To mitigate grid constraints, Circle K is rolling out centralized Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). These batteries unlock:

• Peak shaving to reduce demand charges

• Energy price arbitrage

• Revenue from flexibility markets (DSO/TSO)

“A battery shouldn’t change the user experience—it should enhance it without anyone noticing.” — Hallgeir Horne

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Charging speed myths persist

Despite investing in ultra-fast chargers, customer complaints about "slow charging" often stem from cold batteries or unconditioned EVs, not underperforming chargers. Circle K urges OEMs to better educate users on pre-conditioning via navigation.

“The enemy of fast charging? Cold batteries, not Circle K.” — Hallgeir Horne

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Circle K’s network is expanding across Europe

From Scandinavia to Ireland, Estonia, and the Benelux region, Circle K’s EV footprint is growing fast including its first EV-only site, opening this year.

It does matter

As EV adoption accelerates, retail energy transformation becomes urgent. Circle K offers a playbook on how to:

• Monetise downtime with in-store experiences

• Future-proof operations with load and energy management

• Create consistent EV experiences across regions

• Unlock new revenue streams via grid services

Their story shows that electrification isn’t about ripping out the old—it’s about optimising the new.

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🎧 Listen & learn more

Explore how a traditional fuel giant became a forward-thinking CPO.
→ Listen to Episode 22 of The Charge Point Podcast

For more insights, visit our Podcast page  and dive into industry-defining conversations.

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