You mean when the article says "it has a user interface light years better than your gas pumps". That's not expressing time, it's expressing distance. Not sure

You mean when the article says "it has a user interface light years better than your gas pumps". That's not expressing time, it's expressing distance. Not sure if it's a common expression where you're from, but it's the same as saying something like "we're miles ahead of the competition." Distance ahead. So light years works as a substitute for miles.