Gilbarco Veeder-Root (GVR) has introduced Konect in Australia, an end-to-end electric vehicle (EV) charging solution to help service stations transition into multi-fuel convenience hubs.
The move comes as Australia pushes to increase EV adoption, with the government targeting 50,000 public charging stations by 2030 to support a projected 30 per cent EV market share. In 2024, EVs accounted for nearly 10 per cent of new vehicle sales.
Om Shankar, Vice President & General Manager of Konect, said fuel retailers must act now to remain viable in a changing market.
“Australia is a market brimming with innovation, passion for progress, and favourable conditions primed to drive positive growth in electric-vehicle take-up in the years to come. However, fuel retailers need the right tools to make that growth a reality – and critically, to make the enterprise a profitable and sustainable one for them.”
Konect offers an integrated approach, assisting service stations with site selection, funding applications, installation, and ongoing technical support. The system is designed to fit seamlessly into forecourts, allowing retailers to maintain customer traffic while adapting to evolving energy demands.
Service stations in Australia have declined from 25,000 in the 1970s to about 7,000 today. A report by Boston Consulting Group suggests that 80 per cent of the remaining fuel retail network could become unprofitable by 2035 without adaptation to new energy solutions.
Gilbarco Veeder-Root, which holds a 60 per cent share in Australia’s fuel technology sector, aims to support retailers through this transition.
“The energy landscape is evolving, and fuel retailers require a trusted partner to navigate the transition to EV charging infrastructure,” Shankar said.
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