EV CHARGERS

EV Drivers Are Sick of Broken Chargers. RetailEdge by Electric Era Has an Answer That Actually Works.

November 7, 2025

RetailEdge supports 400 kW fast charging (adding over 10 miles of range per minute) and features a 27-inch touchscreen, voice guidance and dual-connector (NACS or CCS1) capability.
Electric Era claims per-port uptime of 99.8% and operating-cost reductions of up to 70% via battery-backed architecture and predictive maintenance.
The charger kiosk is built to integrate with retail systems (loyalty signup, membership validation, retail media campaigns, POS transactions) through its “RetailEdge Experiences” capability, and is paired with “HaloAI” for real-time driver assistance and personalised promotions.

The truth is that one of the biggest headaches for EV drivers has been arriving at a fast-charger only to find it out of order. According to an industry study, just 72.5% of public DC fast-charging ports in the San Francisco Bay Area were even functional when checked. That statistic alone should raise eyebrows for anyone in retail or infrastructure. Now meet RetailEdge from Electric Era, launched October 2025, as a serious attempt to reset expectations, both for drivers and for retailers.

RetailEdge is described as the first fast charger designed to extend the shopping experience straight into the parking lot, turning what used to be idle time into a fresh way for retailers to connect with customers and create revenue. In short, it’s built to do a lot more than just power up a car.

_{Electric Era RetailEdge promotional graphic highlighting the fast charger’s AI-powered touchscreen, 400kW charging speed, contactless payments, and retail-focused design.}

From daily operations and marketing to loyalty programs and the store floor itself, it ties EV charging directly into retail life. At the heart of it are two key features.

RetailEdge Experiences turns the charger’s touchscreen into an extension of the store, where drivers can join loyalty programs, verify memberships, see personalized promotions, or even make purchases connected to the store’s checkout system.

Then there’s HaloAI, the built-in digital attendant that pulls data from the charger, the vehicle, and the session to assist drivers in real time with updates, guidance, and friendly, personalized interaction.

“DC fast charging began with speed and incentives, but its future lies in transforming the charger into a fully monetized, omnichannel marketing solution,” said Electric Era Founder and CEO Quincy Lee. “This is what the next generation looks like, as today marks the beginning of the electric era.”

Now, why should retailers care? For starters, old DC fast chargers were often shoved behind the store, half-hidden between dumpsters and loading docks, with clunky payment systems and spotty connections. Hardly the kind of experience that invites confidence.

RetailEdge flips that around. It’s a polished, modern kiosk built to be seen, with a 27-inch touchscreen, clear voice guidance, and weatherproof hardware designed to greet customers right up front.

Full-service EV charging solutions provider Electric Era debuts its all-new Retailer AI platform – enabling the power of AI and a voice-activated user interface to dramatically enhance the EV charging experience. — _{Full-service EV charging solutions provider Electric Era debuts its all-new Retailer AI platform, enabling the power of AI and a voice-activated user interface to dramatically enhance the EV charging experience.}

Then there’s reliability. The metric that actually keeps people coming back. Electric Era reports installation timelines as short as 54 days, per-port uptime at 99.8%, and a 96% driver satisfaction rating on PlugShare.

Those numbers speak for themselves. And because the system uses a battery-backed design that smooths out power demand, retailers can cut installation headaches and reduce operating costs by up to 70%. Smart engineering. Smart business.

Here’s a scenario: you’re running a busy convenience store chain, and lately, you’ve noticed more EVs pulling into your lot. You’ve thought about installing chargers before, but the upfront costs, installation headaches, and reliability concerns kept you on the fence.

That’s where RetailEdge changes things. It gives you a ready-made blend of hardware and software that connects your parking lot directly to your brand experience. The charger becomes an extension of your store. Your logo, your offers, your customer touchpoint.

Drivers can sign up for loyalty rewards, check out promotions, or make quick purchases right from the charger’s touchscreen. HaloAI steps in as a friendly, multilingual digital attendant, helping first-time EV owners through the process and even suggesting products they might like. With tap-to-pay, voice guidance, and both NACS and CCS1 connectors built in, it’s a setup that feels thought out, not bolted on.

_{A woman charges her electric vehicle at an Electric Era RetailEdge kiosk featuring a touchscreen display and built-in HaloAI system.}

For you, that means the charger no longer sits there as a sunk cost. It becomes part of your retail strategy, turning parking spaces into places where customers engage with your brand and add to your bottom line.

So, what’s the catch? Well, you still have to plan the installation, budget for the investment, and make sure your loyalty programs, point-of-sale systems, and retail media tools connect properly.

The good news is that the platform’s open design makes that connection possible without jumping through endless hoops. Sure, EV adoption and infrastructure growth still have a few hurdles, but for retailers paying attention to where the market is heading, this feels like a smart, forward-thinking play.

Consumers are charging faster, spending more time at stores, and expecting better experiences, so that investment suddenly makes a lot more sense.

From my perspective, the way to frame this to stakeholders is simple. Ask them, “What if our parking lot charger did more than just charge? What if it became a branded experience, helped extend our loyalty program, informed the driver, sold the product, and made us look like a leader in EV adoption?” Then look at the data. Reliability is proven. A modern unit sits well at the forecourt. The tech supports your retail ecosystem. That gives you a compelling story to present to operations, to real estate, to store leadership.

RetailEdge gives retailers a credible pathway to deploy DC fast charging with retail-experience layered in. Consumers expect more than commodity service, and this differentiates. And for your audience of retail brands, store networks, convenience chains, it’s a tool you can raise confidently.

Because at the end of the day, when an EV driver sees your branded charger with a large interactive screen, quick tap-to-pay and voice-guided support, and their vehicle actually charges without interruption, you’ve earned a moment of loyalty. That moment can turn into additional retail spend, foot traffic, brand trust.