Some convenience-store retailers see electric vehicle (EV) charging stations as a profitable and innovative addition to their business, while others are waiting to see how fast EV ownership in the U.S. grows.
Either way, the convenience-store industry is playing a vital role in the status of EV adoption, in whichever direction it may go.
Convenience-store retailers perceive EVs to have the greatest effect on fuel demand in 2025, according to CSP’s 2025 Outlook Survey, which was open to convenience-store retailers from Oct. 4 through Nov. 4.
While it’s important to stay up to date on EV news, it can be challenging to keep up with the terminology that comes with it.
CSP has created an EV glossary—refer to this page for EV technology definitions, acronyms and standards.
For more on EV charging, read...
- Where Does EV Charging Accessibility Stand Today?
- How Policy Shifts Are Impacting Fuels
- Will C-Stores Receive More Federal Funds for Electric Vehicle Charging Under Trump Administration’s New Rules?
Vehicles
Electric vehicle (EV): A broad category that includes several types of electric-powered vehicles, including BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles), PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) and sometimes FCEVs (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles).
Battery electric vehicle (BEV): Vehicles that operate solely on electricity stored in rechargeable battery packs. They produce zero tailpipe emissions and are recharged via external power sources. Many modern BEVs offer ranges of 200–300 miles or more on a single charge.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs): Vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine with an electric motor powered by a larger battery pack. These vehicles can operate in electric-only mode for moderate distances (typically 20 to 50 miles) before the gasoline engine activates.
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): Vehicles that integrate a conventional gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery system. They cannot be plugged in. Instead, they have a smaller battery that is charged automatically through regenerative braking and by the internal combustion engine itself.
Internal combustion engine (ICE): A vehicle powered by fuel in the form of diesel or gasoline.
Infrastructure
Level 1 charging: A type of charging that uses a standard 120-volt outlet, such as the outlets used for household appliances. It is the slowest method of charging, typically adding about 2-5 miles of range per hour of charging, so it is most commonly used in residential settings.
Level 2 charging: A 240-volt charging system that provides faster charging than Level 1. It typically adds around 10-60 miles of range per hour of charging, depending on the charger and the vehicle.
Level 3 charging: A high-speed charging system that can charge an EV's battery to 80% in as little as 30 minutes, using direct current. While it can be found at some convenience stores, it’s not as widespread as Level 2 charging and primarily used along highways or for commercial applications.
Electrical Charging Currents
Direct current (DC): A type of electrical current that flows in a single direction. In DC, the electric charge (electrons) moves steadily from the negative side to the positive side of a power source, such as a battery. It is used in Level 3 fast charging because the current flows directly to the vehicle's battery and bypasses the onboard AC-to-DC converter.
Alternating current (AC): A type of electrical current where the direction of the current periodically reverses. This is most used in at-home charging because home outlets supply AC power. It is also used in Level 1 and Level 2 charging.
Chargers
Tesla Supercharger: A high-speed charging network built by Tesla for its own electric vehicles. These stations provide fast charging. Tesla has begun providing adapters in some areas, which allow CCS-equipped EVs to use Superchargers.
Smart charging: A charging system that integrates with the grid or utilizes cloud-based software to optimize charging times, control energy consumption and manage demand. It can also help EVs to communicate with the grid for V2G (vehicle-to-grid) functions.
Combined charging system (CCS): The fast-charging standard for electric vehicles that supports both AC and DC charging. It’s widely used in North America and Europe and is compatible with many electric vehicle models.
Connectors
Charging port: The physical interface on the EV where the charger is plugged in. Different EVs may have different types of charging ports depending on the charging standard they support (e.g., Type 1, Type 2, CCS).
Type 1 connector: A five-pin connector used primarily in North America. It is used for Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) AC charging for EVs. It is used for single-phase (using a single alternating current waveform to deliver electricity) charging.
Type 2 connector: A seven-pin connector used in Europe that supports Level 2 AC charging and is often used for both single-phase and three-phase (using three alternating current waveforms delivered over three conductors to supply electricity) charging, enabling higher power charging than the Type 1 connector.
Funding
National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program: A program administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that provided $5 billion over five years (fiscal years 2022 through 2026) to U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to deploy EV charging infrastructure and establish a national network. Funds can be used for acquiring, installing, operating and maintaining EV charging stations.
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Discretionary Grant Program: A competitive grant program offering $2.5 billion for deploying publicly accessible EV charging, hydrogen, propane and natural gas fueling infrastructure along designated alternative fuel corridors and in other publicly accessible locations.
State and local funding: State and local governments also provide some grants and incentives. While these programs vary widely depending on the region, many municipalities and counties offer funding opportunities for businesses, residents and organizations to install EV charging stations.
Batteries
Lithium-ion battery: A type of rechargeable battery commonly used in EVs, consumer electronics and renewable energy systems. It uses lithium ions to move between the positive and negative electrodes during charging and discharging cycles.
Battery management system (BMS): Anelectronic system that manages a rechargeable battery or battery pack. It monitors and optimizes parameters such as voltage, current, temperature and state of charge.
Policy, Regulation and Mandates
Clean air zones or low emission zones: Urban areas where policies are implemented to restrict or discourage the entry of vehicles that produce high levels of pollutants, including traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. EVs are generally allowed to enter these zones freely, promoting the use of cleaner transportation technologies to reduce air pollution.
U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), sets CAFE standards and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for vehicles sold in the U.S. CAFE standards are under review by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has taken steps to roll back fuel economy standards established under the previous administration.
California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate: Administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the mandate requires automakers to sell a specific percentage of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) each year. By 2035, 100% of new vehicle sales must be ZEVs. In May, the Senate voted to overturn California’s Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, which were authorized in 2022 when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted the state a waiver under the Clean Air Act to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The House of Representatives previously passed a similar resolution, and now both resolutions await Trump’s signature to become law.
Charging Networks and Providers
Public charging network: A system of charging stations that are available for use by the public, typically managed by various private companies, government entities or other organizations. These charging stations provide access to electric vehicle charging in public spaces, such as convenience stores, parking lots, shopping centers and along highways.
Charging provider: Organizations or entities that own, operate and maintain EV charging stations, such as ChargePoint, Electrify America and Tesla Supercharger. They may be publicly or privately operated, and they facilitate the charging of electric vehicles at various locations, such as public spaces, businesses and highways.
Charging hub: Acentralized location that hosts multiple EV charging stations, often with high-power charging infrastructure to accommodate many EVs at once.
Home charging station: A charging unit installed at a home that allows EV owners to charge their vehicle overnight. This is typically a Level 1 or Level 2 charger.
Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation; U.S. Department of Energy; Joint Office of Energy and Transportation; ChargePoint; Tesla; Electrify America; World Health Organization; California Air Resources Board
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