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The walled garden charging network looks like it may be a problem in the future, why hasn't an independent entrepreneur started setting these up and charging mo

The walled garden charging network looks like it may be a problem in the future, why hasn't an independent entrepreneur started setting these up and charging money for them? Why haven't gas stations caught on to provide 1-2 charging stations?

usrusr 9y ago
> Why haven't gas stations caught on to provide 1-2 charging stations? Being a commodity intermediary does not really put them in a position where they can be generous with uncertain investments.
- jasonmaydie 9y ago
  I didn't say it should be free. But they have one of the best assets.. location and space.
HeyLaughingBoy 9y ago
Consider the usage of a typical gas station parking space. People park, go buy their snacks, cigarettes, groceries, etc., and are gone in 3-6 minutes. Usually the spots are used by people who are not buying gas. Those people leave their car parked at the pump while they shop. Now you want to dedicate one or two of those parking spaces to charge a car that will be there for 30-60 minutes. The only way that will be profitable is if the fee to charge your car is at least 10x the average amount a customer spends. Otherwise, what happens is the parking spots fill up and prospective customers go elsewhere and offering car charging actually causes the station to lose money. OTOH, restaurants offering charging spots could be a moneymaker because now there's a reason to keep customers there longer, and longer stays will generally mean they buy more.
- illegalsmile 9y ago
  At least out west I notice a lot of the gas stations on major interstates have plenty of extra room on the peripheries of their lot that could be turned into charging parking spaces. This is where I see the majority of drivers charging their vehicles on a long trip. Once you drive into the city these lots become a lot smaller and are designed for exactly what you described which makes charging more difficult.

usrusr 9y ago

> Why haven't gas stations caught on to provide 1-2 charging stations? Being a commodity intermediary does not really put them in a position where they can be generous with uncertain investments.

jasonmaydie 9y ago
I didn't say it should be free. But they have one of the best assets.. location and space.

HeyLaughingBoy 9y ago

Consider the usage of a typical gas station parking space. People park, go buy their snacks, cigarettes, groceries, etc., and are gone in 3-6 minutes. Usually the spots are used by people who are not buying gas. Those people leave their car parked at the pump while they shop. Now you want to dedicate one or two of those parking spaces to charge a car that will be there for 30-60 minutes. The only way that will be profitable is if the fee to charge your car is at least 10x the average amount a customer spends. Otherwise, what happens is the parking spots fill up and prospective customers go elsewhere and offering car charging actually causes the station to lose money. OTOH, restaurants offering charging spots could be a moneymaker because now there's a reason to keep customers there longer, and longer stays will generally mean they buy more.

illegalsmile 9y ago
At least out west I notice a lot of the gas stations on major interstates have plenty of extra room on the peripheries of their lot that could be turned into charging parking spaces. This is where I see the majority of drivers charging their vehicles on a long trip. Once you drive into the city these lots become a lot smaller and are designed for exactly what you described which makes charging more difficult.