Speaking to the AmpCharge system, they are really going after the fleet customer, as Caltex/Ampol has done for years. That is probably the thinking behind metro electric charge stations. Caltex/Ampol have had a 2-pronged approach to retaining customers,
1) Fleet cards.
2) Woolies 4 cent discount on shopper dockets/loyalty cards.
I would expect to see the metro sites near CBD/commercial areas, and near apartment precincts, to cater for residents that don't have access to home charge points. The Ampol charge points will not be limited to the servo's and businesses can install them on their customer parking bays. Another reason to shop at ABC rather than XYZ.
Interesting that they are considering placing a charge station at individuals' homes so they can charge the work vehicle.
They are also going after the corporate market by offering a range of workplace charging stations. This will allow the corporate customers to atomise and streamline energy costs, with one invoice payable per month. If I were to crystal ball this idea, I would imagine that Ampol will shortly become an electricity retailer like Origin, AGL etc.
From memory, many of the big oil companies changed their branding from an oil company to an energy company, a couple of years back. At about the same time, they started divesting themselves worldwide of the retail arm.
Somebody somewhere, high up, saw the writing on the wall. Obviously, Caltex/Ampol don't wish to be a Kodak moment in time!
from the Ampol web page.
- Home Charging for Fleet
- AmpCharge will offer home charging solutions, so your drivers and employees can charge their EVs at home
- Commercial Charging
- AmpCharge will be able to install and build charging bays, enabling convenient and fast charging services for your EV customers
- Workplace Charging
- Back to base – AmpCharge will be able to offer a range of fast chargers for your fleet ensuring your fleet drivers are always on the move
- Ampol Card – Coming soon
- Card management & portal
- Employees receive an AmpolCard accessing retail offers
- Access to AmpCharge’s public EV charging network