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Some 83% of consumers fill up at their preferred store even when less expensive gas is available nearby, according to a recent GasBuddy survey.

How important are forecourt upgrades to consumer loyalty? PEI wants your opinion. Please click below to take part in this simple survey:

Survey participants will see immediate, real-time results. PEI will publish final results and analysis in an upcoming PEI Industry Alert.

Forecourt Upgrades and Consumer Loyalty

2021 PEI Convention

Free Distributor Webinar Series

More E15 Infrastructure Grants?

Fall Incident Survey

EV Updates

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by e-mail to the editor, Rick Long at rlong@pei.org

2021 PEI CONVENTION REGISTRATION, HOUSING, BOOTH SELECTION
PEI Priority Club members already have reserved more than 20,000 square feet of exhibit space for the 2021 PEI Convention at the NACS Show, Oct. 5-8 in Chicago. Booth selections for other exhibitors will begin in early March. Attendee registration and housing will open in early May.

Learn more about exhibiting here.

For convention sponsorship information, contact Tom Leibrandt.

DISTRIBUTOR WEBINAR SERIES LAUNCHES FEB. 23
A free National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) webinar series will help PEI distributors develop a strategy for long-term stability and growth. Viewable live or on demand, each of the seven Adding Value in a Post-Pandemic World: New Leadership Strategies for Distributors webinars will be accompanied by a downloadable research report. Topics include:

• Strategic responses to the forces of disruption
• Developing a marketplace strategy
• The pandemic’s effects on distributors
• Channel transformation
• Emerging and traditional technology requirements
• The distributor services imperative
• An integrated distribution strategy

Presenters are Ian Heller and Jonathan Bein of the Distribution Strategy Group.

The first webinar will be at 1 p.m Central Tuesday, Feb. 23. Learn more and register here.

MORE E15 INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS AHEAD?
Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Investment and Market Expansion Act, which would authorize $500 million in infrastructure grants over five years. The bill also would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a proposed rule that would repeal E15 dispenser labeling requirements and allow underground storage tank (UST) systems to store E15 if they (a) have secondarily contained tanks and piping and (b) use interstitial monitoring. (See Jan. 20, 2021 TulsaLetter.)

FALL INCIDENT SURVEY
Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, according to the most recent U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics census.

To help employers better understand and prevent workplace falls, CPWR — The Center for Construction and Research and Training is conducting an anonymous survey on fall incidents. The goal is to better understand how organizational, human and physical factors contribute to workplace falls. Survey results will be used to develop new materials in support of the National Campaign & Annual Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.

To participate, click here.

EV UPDATES
Some 88% of electrical vehicle (EV) owners “often or always” charge their vehicles at home, according to a J.D. Power study. Owners with permanently mounted Level 2 home charging stations were most satisfied with their home-charging experience. Parts and labor to install a Level 2 charger typically cost $1,200 to $2,000 (even more if major electrical upgrades are required).

Jeff Bezos’ Earth Fund made a five-year, $100 million grant to the World Resources Institute (WRI). Half of the grant will be used to electrify 450,000 U.S. school buses by 2030.

A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) study showed California EV owners drive their vehicles an average of 5,300 miles per year, about half of what California policymakers estimated. The annual average for the U.S. vehicle fleet is 13,500 miles.

EVs accounted for 10.5% of all EU vehicle sales in 2020, up from 3% in 2019. Plug-in hybrids were another 11.9% of total sales.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Jaguar brand will be 100% electric by 2025, as the company works to become a net-zero carbon business by 2039.

Ford Motor Co. will invest $22 billion on new electric vehicle models through 2025 and another $7 billion on autonomous vehicle technology.

BRIEFLY NOTED
“Shell wholesalers will be charged monthly fees beginning May 1 for each Shell station that has not complied with the Europay Mastercard Visa (EMV) technology standards for accepting chip payment cards at the pump, according to a message sent this month. On May 1, there will be a $250/month fee for each site that doesn't accept chip cards at the gas islands. On July 1, the fee increases to $500/month.” — Oil Express Alert, Feb. 16

“Although key research has indicated skimming crime as a whole is on the decline, consumers aren’t convinced, according to a recent survey of 1,050 Americans from CompareCards, a payment card evaluation website. ... In a survey late last year, nearly one-third of those purchasing gas in the prior 30 days said they thought they had been a victim of either credit or debit card skimming at the pump, up from 23% in 2019 and 15% in 2018. Some 35% of those responding to the study said they are more worried about skimming now than they were a year ago; only 12% said they were less worried.” — Oil Express, Feb. 8

“Hydrogen global leader Linde is partnering with Hyosung Corporation, one of South Korea's largest industrial conglomerates, to build, own and operate extensive new liquid hydrogen infrastructure in South Korea. Under the partnership, Linde will build and operate Asia's largest liquid hydrogen facility, based in Ulsan, and sell and distribute the liquid hydrogen produced through a nationwide network of hydrogen filling stations. The first phase of the project is expected to start operations in 2023. Ulsan liquid hydrogen production facility will have a capacity of over 30 tons per day, enough to fuel 100,000 hydrogen-powered cars.” — PetrolPlaza, Feb. 9

PEI MEMBER NEWS
Bowie Industries appointed Evergreen Bowie Sales as the company’s new dealer in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. 

Tanknology launched a redesigned website featuring improved search capability, intuitive navigation and real-time chat.

Titan Cloud Software named Brent Puzak vice president of solutions consulting. Puzak previously led Circle K’s Environmental Shared Services department.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Indiana service provider. A & J Petroleum, P.O. Box 335, Corydon, IN 47112, applied for service and construction division membership. Austin Ellett is CEO of the company, which was established in 1994. A & J Petroleum performs UST system removal, construction, inspections and servicing. Sponsored for PEI membership by Mickey Meyer, M & M Service Station Equipment Specialists Inc., Highland Heights, Kentucky. www.ajpetroleum.com

ADMITTED TO PEI

• Premium Petroleum Services LLC, Jamestown, North Dakota (service and construction)
• Keldair HR, Dunmore, Pennsylvania (affiliate)

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The TulsaLetter is published two or three times each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Richard C. Long, Editor. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the Editor.