Talks On Mobility

Angola’s national oil and fuel retail company Sonangol finds is immerser in a process of extreme modernization. The man behind that vision is Mauro Graça, CEO of Sonangol Distribuição e Comercialização. In this episode, he discusses the scale of the transformation underway at Sonangol's downstream unit, which manages storage, distribution, bunkering, aviation fuel, and a retail network holding roughly two-thirds of Angola's fuel market. The company is renewing its stations and back-office systems alike, pushing for more inventory visibility, tighter operational control, and greater automation so that management can track any station's stock in real time. The end goal, Graça said, is a network that is safer, more efficient, and more reliable, built around a stronger customer experience rather than fuel sales alone.That shift is reshaping what a Sonangol station looks like. Graça described stations evolving into multi-service hubs where a driver can refuel, grab a coffee at the convenience store, stop at a pharmacy, or wash the car. All in one digitalized, connected location. He linked that strategy directly to Angola's young, digitally connected population, which he sees as the company's biggest opportunity to build loyalty around the Sonangol brand rather than around fuel price alone. Food and beverage plays into that too, though Graça noted demand varies sharply by region, from stations where customers linger and socialize to ones built around quick breakfast and commuter stops.

Conversamos con Fitzgerald Cantero, Director de Estudios, Proyectos e Información de la Organización Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Energía (OLACDE), sobre la acelerada transición energética que está transformando la región. A partir del más reciente informe sobre el Panorama Energético de América Latina y el Caribe, Cantero ofrece una visión panorámica de un continente que atraviesa múltiples cambios simultáneos: desde los combustibles fósiles hacia las energías renovables, desde el transporte tradicional hacia la electromovilidad, y desde el modelo exportador de materias primas hacia un potencial polo industrial dentro de la transición energética global.Exploramos qué factores posicionan a América Latina de manera única en un contexto de crecientes tensiones energéticas globales, desde su riqueza mineral hasta su avance hacia una matriz eléctrica más limpia, así como los desafíos pendientes para convertir ese potencial en desarrollo sostenible. También abordamos el crecimiento del 851% del parque de vehículos eléctricos en la región entre 2022 y 2025, el papel estratégico que continúa teniendo el gas natural, el potencial de los biocombustibles y las lecciones que América Latina puede tomar de las experiencias de Europa, Norteamérica y Asia.Fitzgerald CanteroCantero es Director de Estudios, Proyectos e Información en OLACDE, la organización intergubernamental de energía integrada por 27 países miembros de América Latina y el Caribe. En este cargo, supervisa la elaboración de informes técnicos, perspectivas energéticas y herramientas de apoyo a la toma de decisiones que ayudan a los gobiernos a planificar e implementar sus políticas energéticas. Cuenta con una trayectoria de 20 años en el sector público de Uruguay, donde lideró la Dirección Nacional de Energía y Presidió la Administración del Mercado Eléctrico.“América Latina tiene una gran oportunidad en un mundo cada vez más tenso e incierto. Tenemos recursos naturales, potencial energético, capacidad productiva y personas.”“Históricamente, hemos sido exportadores de materias primas e importadores de bienes manufacturados. Hoy tenemos la oportunidad de pensar de manera diferente y planificar a 20, 30 o 40 años.”

MobilityPlaza sat down with Tom Hurst, UK Country Director at Fastned, to talk grid constraints, the CPO versus energy major debate, payment trends, and the projects shaping the future of fast charging in Britain.

In this episode of Talks on Mobility, we gather three industry insiders for a preview of UNITI expo 2026, the leading service station and car wash trade fair in Europe, taking place May 19–21 in Stuttgart. Peter Hack (Hack AG), Juan Carlos Quintero (PWM), and Ben Boroewitsch (com-a-tec & UNITI expo), share their perspectives on what to expect from the biggest edition yet, and what it says about an industry in transformation.The episode paints a clear picture of a sector in structural transition. Convenience retail has overtaken car wash as the fastest-growing segment since 2022, with operators increasingly seeking integrated technology solutions rather than standalone products. Peter Hack highlighted how customers a looking for premium food services with technology and private label having a big impact.UNITI expo has been on a journey from a regional petroleum retail trade fair in 2014 to what he now describes as an event for the full mobility ecosystem, reflecting how dramatically the industry itself has changed. Ben expressed particular excitement about the expanded Future Mobility Lounge, which he sees as a sign of the growing appetite for alternative fuels and next-generation mobility solutions.The international dimension of UNITI expo has also become one of its defining features, with technology attracting operators from all over the world. The speakers converged on the same insight: that in a B2B world built on trust, nothing replaces meeting face to face.Peter HackHack is CEO of Hack AG, one of Germany's leading manufacturers of bakery and pastry products for the mobility and convenience sector. Under his leadership, Hack AG has become a trusted partner to major international forecourt and convenience retail networks. Hack AG is also the company behind the genussGARTEN, the iconic food court experience that has become one of the most celebrated features of UNITI expo, bringing high-end convenience food concepts to the heart of the trade show floor."The combination of knowledge transfer, networking, culinary delights — and for me the great after-show parties — makes for a very, very interesting mix in this short time.""The market on the petrol station and the food service side is looking more and more to high-end convenience products. The same quality you'd expect anywhere else, now in a ready meal."Juan Carlos QuinteroQuintero is Sales Director at PWM, a global supplier of electronic price displays and customer journey solutions for the service station industry. A seasoned industry traveller with deep knowledge of forecourt markets across multiple continents, Quintero drives the international business of PWM. From Alaska to Australia, PWM's electronic price signs can be found in over 120 countries worldwide. "UNITI expo is big enough to have a lot of impressions of technology and new ideas, but also small enough to do good quality networking. It's the perfect size.""If you are a gas station, you cannot be quiet. The future is uncertain. They have to change, they have to move, they have to look for cooperation — not only a product, but a full-service solution."Ben BoroewitschBoroewitsch is CEO of com-a-tec, a full-service communications agency based in southwest Germany with three decades of experience in brand strategy, media production, and B2B marketing across technical and industrial sectors. As co-organizer of UNITI expo, he has played a central role in building the event into Europe's leading trade fair for the service station and car wash industries. A driving force behind its international expansion strategy, Boroewitsch has helped transform UNITI expo from a regional petroleum retail show into a global mobility ecosystem platform"It's the biggest UNITI expo in history.

En este nuevo episodio en español de Talks on Mobility, conversamos con David Cervantes Gómez del Pulgar, Responsable de Transformación en FOODBOX, sobre su trayectoria y el creciente rol de la conveniencia en las estaciones de servicio. David repasa sus más de 20 años de experiencia en el sector, incluida su etapa en el equipo de transformación de Galp, en un momento clave para la evolución de la movilidad en Iberia. También analizamos las diferencias y similitudes entre España y Portugal, el rol de la tecnología en esta transición y cómo mantener el foco estratégico sin caer en la persecución de tendencias. En ese sentido, David destaca entre sus influencias la obra de Miquel Lladó para centrarse en escribir el futuro y no solamente leerlo.“El fuerte crecimiento del número de estaciones de servicio a 13.000 en el caso de Iberia llevó a los empresarios y a las energéticas a repensar el modelo y buscar nuevos servicios adicionales para mantener la rentabilidad. Todo con una visión centrada en el atractivo de la ubicación de las estaciones de servicio para el día a día de los clientes. Esto resultó en una diversificación de la oferta en la que el consumidor nos ve como un punto conveniente, y el gran impacto en los últimos años es de la mano de la tecnología para la mejora de la experiencia del cliente”.“En el pasado monitorizábamos las tendencias cada ocho o diez años aproximadamente. Veíamos avances en países del norte de Europa, los grandes mercados de la conveniencia, pero costaba mucho introducir esas tendencias en mercados del sur. Hoy hay un cambio de paradigma, las tendencias son prácticamente anuales o inmediatas”.

MobilityPlaza presenta una nueva iteración en español de su podcast Talks on Mobility, donde conversa con líderes y referentes del sector estacionero en Iberoamérica para entender cómo enfrentan las transformaciones impulsadas por la nueva movilidad. En este primer episodio, Roberto Díaz de León, Director de Combured, repasa su trayectoria y analiza la evolución reciente del mercado gasolinero en México, la problemática del huachicol y por qué, según él, conocer la charrería es también conocer a México.MobilityPlaza presents a new Spanish-language edition of its Talks on Mobility podcast, featuring conversations with leaders and key figures from the fuel retail sector across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. The series explores how they navigate the transformations driven by the rise of new mobility. In this first episode, Roberto Díaz de León, Director of Combured, reflects on his career and examines the recent evolution of Mexico’s fuel retail market, the challenges posed by huachicol (fuel theft), and why, in his view, understanding charrería is essential to understanding Mexico.

In this episode of Talks on Mobility, Oscar Smith Diamante is joined by Jan Harmen Akkerman (MoveYou), Marek Gutt-Mostowy (Wilbert by EUROLOOP), and Jorrit Berkhout (Virta). Together, they unpack how innovative business models, technology, and customer-centric approaches are shaping the next era of e-mobility services. The discussion touches on building hybrid fueling networks, bridging the gap between EV charging and retail convenience, and the crucial role of smart software in making e-mobility reliable, profitable, and engaging for customers.

In the latest episode of Talks on Mobility, Reitan Convenience discusses how the company is embedding sustainability into the very core of its operations. With over 400 stores under the 7-Eleven, Pressbyrån, and PBX brands, Reitan is leading a bold transition in the Nordic convenience sector. Linea Bolkström and Michael Noren detail the company’s three-pillar sustainability strategy: reducing emissions and waste in operations, transforming the product assortment, and fostering community engagement.

In this episode of Talks on Mobility, host Oscar Smith Diamante is joined by Om Shankar (Konect) and Erik Anker (St1) to explore the dynamic evolution of EV charging and service stations. Erik shares insights into St1’s journey as a charge point operator (CPO) in Scandinavia, highlighting the ongoing learning process as they refine their approach. Om highlights the critical role of advanced analytics in maximizing the return on investment for charging networks. The episode also covers utilization rates, the integration of store offerings, and the potential of battery-swapping systems.

As fueling destinations are incorporating diverse energy options, the mobility sector aims to keep up with the challenges this shift presents. While suppliers invest in innovative solutions to address new fueling needs, retailers must decide whether to create all-encompassing fueling sites or focus on energy-specific, dedicated outlets. In this episode of Talks on Mobility, we discuss with industry experts from Bennett Pump, Future Fuelling, and Hiperbaric their perspectives on how this revolution will shape the energy landscape and the development of new fueling locations.

Karl Doenges represents NACS on the coming disruption in mobility and how that effects convenience retailers. In this role, Karl focuses on NACS’ EV charging infrastructure program, monitoring and engaging the EV industry and the Fuels Institute Electric Vehicle Council.  We sat down with Karl at the NACS Show 2024 in Las Vegas. 

A session hosted by MobilityPlaza at UNITI expo 2024 in Stuttgart (Germany) gathered three industry leaders representing hydrogen, e-mobility, and e-fuels to discuss the multi-energy future. 

The heavy-duty transport industry faces major challenges in Europe, especially around safety, labor, and energy. We talk to Gundars Ozols, Founder and CEO of Instantic, about these developments, and how Instantic’s solutions can help tackle these issues.  

For over a decade, Lukas has helped founders, leaders, and investors navigate the #mobilityrevolution. He is a globally recognized strategist, advisor, researcher, and keynote speaker on Smart Cities and Smart Mobility.After introducing the world to “The Mobility Revolution"​ with his 2014 book, Lukas followed up with three more: "Corporate Mobility Breakthrough", "Smart Cities, Smart Mobility", and "Being Driven". He has addressed over 200 audiences (on five continents) on electrification, autonomous technology, smart cities, shared mobility, the energy transition, AI, and investing into a carbon-neutral future. 

From hybrid stores that allow service stations to serve customers 24/7 to fully unmanned stores that cater to EV hubs, smart shopping is one of the industry's hottest topics. With new smart store formats popping up every week, we sat down with three experts - Lekkerland, Juxta and Professor Sabine Benoit - to discuss this exciting field.

John Eichberger, Executive Director of the Transportation Energy Institute, sat down with Oscar Smith Diamante at the NACS Show 2023 to discuss the present and future of the fuel and convenience retail industry. 

In this podcast about the customer experience, operational standards and cleanliness we talk to Armin Springer (Head of Retail at Eni Austria), John Ross (Senior Manager at Murphy USA) and Mike Zahajko (Executive Vice President of Sales for CAF Outdoor Cleaning). The industry experts provide knowledgeable insights and specific examples of maintaining high operational standards and improving the customer experience at forecourts and convenience stores. 

By 2030, fuel cell vehicle production could represent 2.5 million vehicles, of which 20% could be commercial trucks. With major public incentives coming from the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, South Korea and Australia, it is expected for the hydrogen mobility market to start to pick up pace. We spoke to three international suppliers – Dover Fueling Solutions, Hiperbaric and Hellonext – about their H2 solutions and their view of the market. 

MobilityPlaza spoke to Doug Haugh, President of Parkland USA, at the NACS Show 2022 in Las Vegas. We discussed the growth of the company in the U.S., strategies for EV charging and the importance of food.

The role of non-fuel products continues to grow across European service stations. In this episode of our podcast we talk about the profit centers outside of fuels, the new customer journey and the role of coffee in today’s business. To discuss this we are joined by Hans Jung, Senior Key Account Manager Germany & Austria at Franke Coffee Systems, and Gavin Ferchland, Head of Retail Sales and Retail Non-Oil at Eni Austria. The Swiss brand is a world leader in coffee systems for convenience stores and petrol stations while Eni is one of Europe’s most important fuel retailers.  

In this first episode of our podcast we talked to Joe Boyle, Commercial Director at FreshStop, about the role of c-stores as community hubs, the continued growth of their network, the South African customer, and the hurdles that EVs will find in the country.