Wawa Accelerates Rollout of Proprietary Fast-Charging Network

Following its launch earlier this year of the proprietary Tesla Supercharger network, U.S. convenience store chain Wawa is accelerating its strategy to build out independently branded EV charging infrastructure. According to the latest announcement, Wawa will deploy eight company-owned DC fast-charging stations across its Pennsylvania locations by 2026, in partnership with Electrify America.

This collaboration leverages Electrify America's white-label charging platform — hardware, software, and network operations are fully managed by Electrify America, while Wawa operates the stations under its own brand, enhancing both brand consistency and service control.

Five of the stations will feature dual CCS and NACS connectors with a peak charging power of 400 kW; the remaining three will offer CCS-only connectivity at up to 350 kW. Although real-world charging speeds depend on each vehicle's battery management system, the 400 kW hardware specification places these sites among the highest-capacity public fast-charging facilities currently under development in the U.S.

Rich Makin, Wawa's Senior Vice and Chief Fuel & Development Officer, stated: "Owning branded charging infrastructure enables us to offer customers more diverse refueling options across our 14-state footprint." He emphasized that the Pennsylvania pilot aims to validate the operational viability of Wawa's proprietary charging model — not only strengthening brand visibility and ensuring consistent user experience but also improving reliability and encouraging drivers to enter stores for high-margin items like coffee or sandwiches while their vehicles charge.

Notably, the three 350 kW CCS-only stations will be located in Bristol (5900 Bristol Pike), Allentown (7572 Schantz Road), and Quakertown (1960 John Fries Highway); the five 400 kW dual-connector stations will be situated in Upper Darby (8240 West Chester Pike), Phoenixville (1600 Egypt Road), Media (1242 West Baltimore Pike), Williamsport (164 Maynard Street), and LEVDEO (413 Lancaster Avenue).

It's worth noting that Wawa has not discontinued its partnerships with third-party charging providers such as Tesla and IONNA. The new proprietary stations are complementary — not replacement — infrastructure, underscoring Wawa's strategic expansion into the role of an "energy retailer." As EV charging becomes an increasingly central service offering at convenience stores, controlling the charging experience is emerging as a critical lever for boosting customer loyalty and diversifying revenue streams. Specific launch dates and pricing details for the stations have yet to be announced.