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Gas stations have already turned into convenience stores that happen to also fill your car with gas. They'll continue to do so as EV charging stations, and wit

Gas stations have already turned into convenience stores that happen to also fill your car with gas. They'll continue to do so as EV charging stations, and with a captive audience for a longer duration will be able to sell even more stuff/services from their store. It's well understood they make far more money from the overpriced junk inside than stuff at the pump as-is.

SoftTalker 4y ago
The convenience store/gas station business model is unworkable as an EV charging station. A convenience store with two or four pumps can still service many dozens of cars per hour, because a fill-up only takes a few minutes. The same space could only charge a handful of EVs in that time, because it takes 15-30 minutes per car. That's less customers per hour who might also potentially come in and buy something. These places will not be able to afford to exist. EV charging makes more sense as a value-added service for a restaurant, or supermarket, because most customers will be there for 30 minutes anyway.
- pengaru 4y ago
  I don't disagree re: it making sense as a value-added service at a restaurant. But for many, folks already treat the gas station as their cheap convenient restaurant, grocer, gambling den, etc. I have the impression that being a gas station has already kind of ceased to be the primary source of profit. Why isn't there room for all of the above? With how many folks rent/park in the street, demand for convenient charging when the entire fleet is electric is going to be substantial. Especially if there are a lot of cheaper short-range compacts that need frequent top-ups around town... Such vehicles might also get down into the 5-10 minutes charge times too. At least around here gas stations also tend to have way more parking spaces than pumps. Isn't it rather trivial to electrify all the spots vs. putting gas pumps at all of them? Gasoline presents some unique safety and cost barriers to doing that... EVs still need to be washed as well, which many gas stations already provide and restaurants probably won't.

SoftTalker 4y ago

The convenience store/gas station business model is unworkable as an EV charging station. A convenience store with two or four pumps can still service many dozens of cars per hour, because a fill-up only takes a few minutes. The same space could only charge a handful of EVs in that time, because it takes 15-30 minutes per car. That's less customers per hour who might also potentially come in and buy something. These places will not be able to afford to exist. EV charging makes more sense as a value-added service for a restaurant, or supermarket, because most customers will be there for 30 minutes anyway.

pengaru 4y ago
I don't disagree re: it making sense as a value-added service at a restaurant. But for many, folks already treat the gas station as their cheap convenient restaurant, grocer, gambling den, etc. I have the impression that being a gas station has already kind of ceased to be the primary source of profit. Why isn't there room for all of the above? With how many folks rent/park in the street, demand for convenient charging when the entire fleet is electric is going to be substantial. Especially if there are a lot of cheaper short-range compacts that need frequent top-ups around town... Such vehicles might also get down into the 5-10 minutes charge times too. At least around here gas stations also tend to have way more parking spaces than pumps. Isn't it rather trivial to electrify all the spots vs. putting gas pumps at all of them? Gasoline presents some unique safety and cost barriers to doing that... EVs still need to be washed as well, which many gas stations already provide and restaurants probably won't.