CITGO Enters EV Space with Pilot Program in Michigan

CITGO Petroleum Corp., along with longtime Marketer Folk Oil Co., recently launched an electric-vehicle (EV) charging pilot program designed to meet the needs of EV drivers in Battle Creek, Michigan.

The CITGO location at 15551 11 Mile Road now offers both regular transportation fuel and EV charging stations.

For added consumer convenience, EV chargers include plugs for both Charging System (CCS) and the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plugs, CITGO noted.

CITGO said the company has developed an internal model to assess the viability of EV sites and collaborated with national electrical company AGI for implementation.

AGI will work with stores throughout the entire process, facilitating access to available grants via the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, the Inflation Reduction Act and U.S. Department of Transportation’s Utilities, according to CITGO.

“Instead of a store receiving a monthly rent for EV-charger installation, the CITGO program provides upfront assistance, while still giving the marketer full ownership of the installed EV charger,” said Kevin Kinney, CITGO general manager of brand equity.

SEMA member companies and automotive enthusiasts have come out in strong opposition to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) “Advanced Clean Cars II” (ACC II) regulation that would ban the sale of new internal combustion engine motor vehicles by 2035. Specialty aftermarket businesses and industry supporters sent over 5,000 letters to the U.S. EPA expressing opposition to the agency providing California a Clean Air Act waiver, which is required for ACC II to take effect. Industry and enthusiasts alike have united in opposition to California’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) mandate that they said would adversely impact automotive businesses, their employees and millions of automotive enthusiasts.