Circle K tests intelligent energy management across 1,000 charge points

As Circle K accelerates its transition from fuel retailing to electric mobility, the challenge is no longer simply to install more chargers. It is to use available grid capacity efficiently, maintain a strong charging experience and prepare sites for technologies such as battery energy storage.

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Circle K is currently testing FLEXECHARGE’s load management solution across 1,000 charge points, ahead of the next stage of its charging infrastructure strategy.

The challenge: From selling fuel to managing energy

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As Circle K adds more high-power EV charging to existing locations, electricity demand rises significantly. But grid connections are finite, and dimensioning every site for the theoretical maximum demand of all chargers would be costly and inefficient.

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The challenge is therefore clear: how can Circle K continue scaling charging capacity while making better use of the power already available at each location?

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At the same time, Circle K is looking beyond load management. As utilisation grows, stationary batteries could provide additional capacity and flexibility where the grid becomes a constraint.

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The solution: load management at scale

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Circle K is testing FLEXECHARGE’s load management technology across 1,000 charge points.

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The solution dynamically distributes available site capacity between active charging sessions. When one vehicle requires less power or finishes charging, capacity can be reassigned to others while keeping the site within its power limit.

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This allows Circle K to test intelligent load management across a large and diverse charging network under real operating conditions.

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The collaboration also creates the foundation for managing additional energy assets, including battery storage.

The benefits

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The current deployment allows Circle K to validate intelligent energy management before potentially expanding it further.

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Better use of existing grid capacity‍

Available power is continuously redistributed based on actual charging demand.

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A more scalable charging network

Load management can support further charger deployment without automatically increasing grid capacity at every site.

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A strong driver experience

Power is allocated dynamically rather than through simple fixed restrictions.

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Preparation for battery storage

The same energy-management architecture can be extended to Battery Energy Storage Systems.

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Together, the 1,000-charge-point load-management test give Circle K practical experience with the technologies that could underpin its next generation of charging infrastructure — before a potential wider rollout.