Ampol Plugs In: A$1.1B Deal Powers EV Expansion

A$1.1bn purchase of EG Australia could turn fuel stops into EV-charging hubs

28 Oct 2025

Australia’s electric-vehicle transition is gaining momentum. Ampol, the country’s biggest fuel retailer, has agreed to buy EG Australia for A$1.1 billion, a move that could redefine how Australians refuel, or rather, recharge. The deal, subject to approval by the competition regulator, is expected to close by mid-2026.

EG Australia operates roughly 500 service stations and convenience stores, many in prime urban and roadside locations. Ampol plans to fold these into its existing network and, over time, fit selected sites with fast chargers from its AmpCharge brand. “This acquisition strengthens our ability to meet evolving mobility needs across Australia,” the company said.

The logic is clear. As electric cars are forecast to account for a third of new sales by 2030, petrol retailers must reinvent themselves or risk obsolescence. Owning high-traffic forecourts gives Ampol an edge over rivals such as bp, Viva Energy and specialist networks like JOLT and Chargefox.

Analysts argue that the contest is less about kilowatts than convenience. “Drivers want to charge where they already stop, whether that’s grabbing coffee or taking a highway break,” one observer noted. Ampol’s acquisition secures precisely those sites.

Plenty of hurdles remain. Expanding charging capacity demands hefty investment in both equipment and grid connections. The economics of charging, slower turnover and higher power costs, are still untested at scale. Yet the direction of travel is unmistakable: as combustion engines fade, service stations will need to evolve or disappear.

If regulators approve the deal, Ampol’s new network could form a bridge between fossil-fuel heritage and the electric future. For now, the pumps may still hum with petrol, but the wiring for what comes next is already being laid.