{"id":240987,"date":"2025-12-19T12:48:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/240987\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T12:48:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T12:48:15","slug":"the-grid-isnt-strong-enough-for-ev-charging-in-all-areas-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/240987\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The grid isn\u2019t strong enough\u2019 for EV charging in all areas \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Ciara Foxton took up her role as managing director of Circle K<\/a> Ireland in early 2024, she set herself the goal of visiting all 170 of the group\u2019s company-owned locations in her first year. \u201cOne of my directors said, \u2018I love your ambition, but there\u2019s no chance\u2019.\u201d <\/p>\n

Her colleague turned out to be right, but it wasn\u2019t for the lack of effort. <\/p>\n

\u201cI did well, actually,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s the most important part of my job [\u2026] I don\u2019t drive around on my own. I jumped in the car with the area managers, the retail directors. My big thing was I wanted them to get a sense of who I was. I am not this boss person who comes in and never walks around a store.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the surface at least, the Armagh<\/a> native\u2019s efforts appear to have paid off. On a mild winter\u2019s day in Circle K\u2019s Dublin Port<\/a> forecourt, perhaps the group\u2019s busiest, the staff and managers seem relaxed and greet Foxton cheerfully as she gives a whistle-stop tour of the facility. <\/p>\n

They retain their courtesy, even as a quick Irish Times photo shoot threatens to gum up the flow of high-viz vest-wearing customers through the shop.<\/p>\n

Including the forecourt, Circle K occupies an eye-popping real estate footprint in the port. It operates four storage yards, where it handles and distributes shipments of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and, increasingly, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). <\/p>\n

The nerve centre of the group\u2019s port operation is the terminal where our interview is to take place. <\/p>\n

Foxton drives us over to the venue from the forecourt in her Tesla. What prompted her to take the electric vehicle<\/a> (EV) plunge? <\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest thing for me was the customer experience,\u201d she says. \u201cObviously, I have driven a petrol or a diesel car, and I know what that experience is like. And because I know that it\u2019s probably going to be the biggest thing that\u2019s going to change [about the] Circle K experience in the next few years. I just feel a bit more equipped to talk about it, especially when you\u2019re out on the road as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Circle K, which also has a network of 250 independent retailers operating under the brand, has certainly made a big bet on the transition to EVs. The group has invested more than \u20ac15 million in EV charging infrastructure in the past three years. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe great thing about being part of such a global organisation, and a business that\u2019s doing well, is that we\u2019ve got money to invest,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n

Yet, despite its financial firepower, Circle K is running into some familiar blind alleys. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to move faster,\u201d Foxton says, mentioning planning regulations as one barrier to that. However, the big obstacle for Circle K is Ireland\u2019s electricity grid. \u201cIt\u2019s the speed to get connected,\u201d she explains. \u201cAnd then in some areas, the grid isn\u2019t strong enough for us to serve our customers and to be that on-the-go destination for EV.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Irish Ferries uses hydrotreated vegetable oil to fuel ship for first timeOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

In the Republic, Circle K has about 10 stores where it has invested \u2013 at considerable cost, Foxton says \u2013 in charging stations that are not yet hooked up to the electricity grid. She won\u2019t be drawn on the financial details, but it seems the group has a hefty sum of money sitting idle on the ground, waiting for juice.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does break my heart a little bit,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you\u2019re a customer, you don\u2019t know that [the charging station] doesn\u2019t have the grid connection. It looks like it\u2019s in service. Then, you come back, and it\u2019s still out of service. And we do have a thing saying, EV charging coming soon. We try to communicate in that way, but it\u2019s frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Having \u201cbig hubs\u201d, like the dedicated EV charging facilities Circle K opened in Clonshaugh and Citywest in October, has been \u201ca massive win\u201d. However, Foxton says it\u2019s challenging to plan investments, given the uncertainties and constraints. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a magic number in my head,\u201d she says when asked how much Circle K plans to invest in EV charging over the coming years. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just know, if we look at our recent history, we\u2019ve invested a lot in our terminals. We\u2019ve invested a lot in our stores, really trying to enhance customer experience with a whole forecourt rebrand this year. We\u2019ve invested in HVO infrastructure. So EVs are the next big thing in terms of significant capital investment and new stores as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CiaraCiara Foxton, managing director of Circle K Ireland, at the Circle K forecourt at Dublin Port. Photograph: Dara Mac D\u00f3naill<\/p>\n

There was a time, not so long ago, when investing in EV stations and expanding the retail side of the business were seen as vital steps to future-proof the forecourt retailer against declining demand for fossil fuels. Broadly, that still rings true. However, adoption of emissions-free cars has not been linear, and after earlier successes, EV sales in the Republic plummeted in recent years before increasing dramatically again in 2025. <\/p>\n

Reading the tea leaves, the timeline for global petrol and diesel demand is increasingly strained. Oil majors Shell and BP have backtracked rapidly on their climate goals. <\/p>\n

And just this week, the European Commission decided to scrap an effective ban on the combustion engine by 2035. Reports of the imminent death of fossil fuels have been greatly exaggerated, it seems.<\/p>\n

Foxton\u2019s perspective on this is somewhat telling. She sees the investment in Circle K\u2019s food and in-store offering, not just as an insurance policy for the future, but as a way of offering customers more choice in the present. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at our business, it\u2019s about 50:50 in terms of profitability across both food and fuel,\u201d she says. \u201cIf you look at the stats, diesel is declining, but our market share is growing, so there\u2019s still demand there. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, my primary objective for innovation, and particularly around food, is to serve the customers today. I\u2019m not trying to innovate within the store to compensate for something that\u2019s going to happen longer term.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foxton says that while EV charging is going to be the biggest shift under the canopy over the next few years, food will be the main area of change within stores. In a nutshell, it means offering more choice, healthier options and better value for customers across the group\u2019s store network. <\/p>\n

\u201cFood is where I see the biggest opportunity,\u201d Foxton says. \u201cEven leaning into the EV charging [side of the business], you\u2019re stopping and maybe dwelling a little bit longer. But there\u2019s a bigger drive now for healthier food on the go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gone are the days of the jumbo breakfast roll and jambon being the only things on the menu. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s now an expectation of healthier options,\u201d Foxton believes. \u201cI want those options as a customer. And look, we have a lot of different customers who walk through the door. There\u2019s a need for everything that we sell, but I do think it\u2019s a nice opportunity. The next generation coming through is very health-focused.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CiaraCiara Foxton, managing director of Circle K Ireland. Photograph: Dara Mac D\u00f3naill<\/p>\n

Fast food is still a key component of the Circle K equation, however, and the group partners with the likes of McDonald\u2019s and Subway, but also indigenous brands like Supermac\u2019s, Camile Thai and Offbeat Donuts. <\/p>\n

Applegreen generated headlines \u2013 and lengthy queues \u2013 earlier this year when it launched US fast food giant Taco Bell\u2019s first Irish store at its location in Dunshauglin, Co Meath, one of three planned tie-ups between the pair. Given the publicity its rival received, there must have been some temptation to make a similar splashy announcement.<\/p>\n

Not really, in Foxton\u2019s view. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s space for everything,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s resonating with customers, but we already have McDonald\u2019s, a big global brand, and we have an Irish brand in Supermac\u2019s [\u2026] It\u2019s about championing local, and that\u2019s what we like to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Neither does she criticise Applegreen for shouting about the Taco Bell partnership from the rooftops. \u201cI think if you do something like that, you\u2019re right to talk about it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Foxton has been with Circle K since 2018, joining a couple of years after the Canadian forecourt giant entered the Irish market with its acquisition of Topaz. She was hired as group head of financial planning and analysis just before it rebranded as Circle K Ireland, which she describes as an exciting period. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy particular role would have been the back-end system, side of things,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was tricky, but it was very exciting to be part of such a big national launch.\u201d <\/p>\n

Early on, Foxton recalls some question marks over Circle K\u2019s staying power in the Irish market. Those questions seem a bit quaint now, given the amount of money \u2013 probably around \u20ac250 million, Foxton says \u2013 the Toronto-listed parent group Couche Tard has pumped into becoming the largest forecourt retailer in the Republic. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re so happy with the performance,\u201d she says. \u201cWe got our Guaranteed Irish accreditation. They\u2019re here to stay and invest and be part of the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Expansion is definitely on the agenda for Circle K. Earlier this year, the competition regulator cleared the group\u2019s acquisition of seven Pelco-owned, Texaco-branded service stations in Dublin and Meath. <\/p>\n

Into the future, the strategy is going to be about building new stores and shaping them to fit Circle K\u2019s own specifications. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe big focus now,\u201d says Foxton, \u201cis getting a greenfield site and building big locations where we can accommodate all of our best food offerings, EV charging, car wash, HVO, truck pumps, and all the rest. That one-stop shop where you can bring in busloads of people, they can all get served and get in and out fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CiaraCiara Foxton: \u201cThere\u2019s now an expectation of healthier options.” Photograph: Dara Mac D\u00f3naill<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an expensive time to be buying sites in Ireland, let alone funding complex construction projects. \u201cIt\u2019s big money,\u201d Foxton admits. \u201cIt has to be in an area of need, so off busy motorway locations, or in an area where there isn\u2019t enough for the customers, so you\u2019re bringing something better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Certainly, construction costs are high at the moment, she says. \u201cThey\u2019re not going to go down. It is a big advantage to be working for a bigger business.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, it\u2019s full steam ahead for Foxton and her team as they get to grips with what she calls the \u201cforecourt of the future\u201d.<\/p>\n

CV<\/b><\/p>\n

Name: <\/b>Ciara Foxton<\/p>\n

Job: Managing director of Circle K<\/p>\n

Lives<\/b>: Ranelagh, Dublin<\/p>\n

Family<\/b>: Married to Paul, with two children Sarah and Charlie<\/p>\n

Hobbies\/Interests<\/b>: \u201cEntertaining family and friends at home, dining out, and recently I\u2019m enjoying getting back into some strength and conditioning training.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something you might expect<\/b>: \u201cI get my energy from people and love this job as it gives me so many opportunities to meet great people every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Something that might surprise<\/b>: \u201cAs a publican\u2019s daughter and former employee of Diageo, I pull the perfect pint of Guinness.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Will charging my EV ever match the convenience of fuelling up with petrol or diesel?Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Ciara Foxton took up her role as managing director of Circle K Ireland in early 2024, she…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":240988,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[39086,79,37775,35975,18,8888,19,17,37937],"class_list":{"0":"post-240987","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-bp","9":"tag-business","10":"tag-circle-k","11":"tag-dublin-port","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-electric-vehicles","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-shell"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/115746315209331681","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240987","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240987"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240987\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240988"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240987"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240987"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240987"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}