Or, if you live in London, petrol-less petrol stations.
One London gas station has totally reimagined what a refueling forecourt can look like. The Shell station in Fulham, London, has removed all of its gas pumps and replaced them with rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers, reports Bloomberg.
The awnings over each charger are equipped with solar panels and can fully charge a Tesla Model 3 in about 30 minutes. And this “gas” station is far more luxurious than what most people are used to. Why? Because charging EVs takes longer than pumping gas, so the station offers more retail opportunities for customers while they wait. Drivers charging their cars can get groceries, buy coffee, get their cars washed, or simply put their feet up in comfy lounge chairs.
It makes total sense that Shell would want to install tons more gas-less gas stations, too, as people are more likely to spend money on other goods if they have to stay a bit longer. Even if the EV chargers here are ultra-fast - several times quicker than the ones installed in people’s homes.
Financially, gas providers like Shell converting more forecourts to gas-less gas stations makes sense considering the explosive growth of the EV market. McKinsey & Co. predict that installing these non-fuel stations represents a multi-billion dollar opportunity for this new market.
Shell is the largest gas retailer in the world with tens of thousands of forecourts across the globe. This London station is an example of what our future could look like.
