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Wawa Builds Its Own EV Charging Empire, Powered by Tesla
Convenience store giant Wawa is launching its own branded EV Supercharger stations, shifting from hosting Tesla's network to becoming an owner-operator.
Key Points
Convenience store giant Wawa is launching its own branded EV Supercharger stations, shifting from hosting Tesla's network to becoming an owner-operator.
The new strategy allows Wawa to control its own pricing and capture the full revenue stream from charging, aiming to convert drivers' dwell time into in-store sales.
Tesla remains a key partner by handling the design, permitting, and construction of the new Wawa-owned sites, ensuring a familiar user experience.
Wawa is also partnering with the IONNA network, indicating a broader strategy to become a key refueling destination for all EV brands, not just Tesla.
Convenience store giant Wawa is moving from being Tesla’s biggest charging host to a full-fledged owner-operator, launching its own branded Supercharger stations to control pricing and capture the entire revenue stream.
From renter to owner: For years, Wawa was essentially a landlord for Tesla's network, but the new strategy puts it in the driver's seat. The first company-owned site in Alachua, Florida, sets its own price of $0.37/kWh. The move means Wawa is now taking on the direct risks and rewards of the charging business itself.
Still friends: The partnership with Tesla isn't over—it's just changing. Tesla's head of charging in North America, Max de Zegher, confirmed his team handled the "design, permitting, and build" for the new Wawa site. For drivers, the experience is designed to feel unchanged, with access to familiar features like Plug and Charge and real-time availability updates.
Wawa's ambition is to become a go-to refueling destination, no matter what powers the vehicle. By owning the chargers, the company gets to own the customer relationship and, more importantly, convert a 20-minute charging stop into profitable in-store sales of coffee and sandwiches. But Wawa isn't the only company buying into Tesla's charging ecosystem, with others like Francis Energy also installing their own Superchargers. The move places Wawa at the forefront of an industry race where convenience stores like Wawa and Sheetz are leading the pack in EV adoption.
