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Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

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121–130 of 281 posts

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#121
post #114
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>Paying a startup $15/mo to reclaim even 40 mins a month of my personal time is a no brainer. Just asking, how do you wish to spend those 40 mins you are likely to save per month? Which you will likely get in installments of 20 minutes per 15 days(avg 1 minute/day).

For me it would be not needing to experience the little bit of stress I see when the fuel indicator is edging down to 1/4 tank and wondering when I'm going to squeeze in a trip to the gas station when I'd really rather be somewhere else.

Just buy a Tesla and charge it every night :)

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#122
post #107
post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We offer both regular (87 octane) and premium (91/93, depending on the market) grade. Not ethanol free but it is high quality ("top tier" in most markets).

Stocking racing gas would be awesome. (Sunoco SS100 is street legal in California, too.)

Yes actually we've gotten a surprising number of requests for this

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#123

What are the carbon costs of this service? Is less carbon burned into the atmosphere because of this service? Or, more? Is there a public analysis that we can view? Edit: Really? Buried to the bottom for environmental concern questions? Is this another case of YCombinator being unable to adequately respond to critical questions?

I'm not even sure what you're saying.

Carbon being released into the atmosphere is believed to be one of the main contributors to rapid climate change. Gasoline is a liquid of hydrogen and carbon. When it is burned, the carbon and hydrogens are broken apart and the carbon joins with oxygen and is then typically allowed to escape in to the atmosphere.

This service is hauling around, presumably large amounts of, gasoline, likely using a hydro-carbon burning engine. Usually this gasoline is taken straight to large tanks where many vehicles may come to refill. With this service, much work must be done to move around the gasoline to the vehicles, wherever they might be.

I want to know how much carbon is released into the atmosphere by this service over (or under) the current alternative.

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#124

What are the carbon costs of this service? Is less carbon burned into the atmosphere because of this service? Or, more? Is there a public analysis that we can view? Edit: Really? Buried to the bottom for environmental concern questions? Is this another case of YCombinator being unable to adequately respond to critical questions?

Probably close to neutral; maybe better, if their truck is diesel, and it keeps people from driving out of their way to find the cheapest gas in stop and go traffic.

It's a pretty insignificant concern, though, relative to the positives (time savings, convenience) and negatives (safety).

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#125
post #15

"... allows Yoshi to access any car’s tank, even if the gas flap is locked." Very curious how this works.

Good question. We created a device (that we call a "Fuel Vault") that we can install in your car's "gas flap." We'll require that you leave your car's gas flap popped open for your first fill-up so that we can install it. After that, we'll be able to get into your gas flap anytime. It doesn't require any permanent modifications to your car, and can be removed anytime.

Can you give more details on how the Fuel Vault works? I use GasNinja currently, but would consider switching just so I could tear one apart.

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#126
post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Stocking racing gas would be awesome. (Sunoco SS100 is street legal in California, too.)

Yes actually we've gotten a surprising number of requests for this

Sounds like a niche that might work for you guys. I'm guessing the people who need that kind of fuel intersects nicely with "people who don't have time to fill up" and are willing to spend some extra money for convenience.

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#127
post #10

Hi, I'm one of the founders. Happy to answer any questions!

Is there any way to use the service if your car is kept in a private garage at home and work?

Yes it's possible. If you sign-up with your address our team will be in touch if we need more info or there's an issue.

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#128

This is like the late 90s. Startup bubble. The world is moving to EVs. Not sure how this is a tech startup?

I think a dozen people have made this comment so far, and I don't get it at all. Is there some reason why the refueling services can't drive around with a truck full of batteries, instead of a truck full of gas?

I'm assuming the argument is that at home, you'd just recharge from your house's power. So the use case is diminished in that sense.

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#129
post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>>Paying a startup $15/mo to reclaim even 40 mins a month of my personal time is a no brainer. Just asking, how do you wish to spend those 40 mins you are likely to save per month? Which you will likely get in installments of 20 minutes per 15 days(avg 1 minute/day).

If you're rushing to get home before your young children go to bed, you simply cannot put a price on those extra 40 minutes.

If you are rushing to get home before your young children go to bed, haven't you likely already put a price on those minutes?

Re: Yoshi (YC S16) launches “set it and forget it” vehicle re-fueling service in SF

#130
post #124

What are the carbon costs of this service? Is less carbon burned into the atmosphere because of this service? Or, more? Is there a public analysis that we can view? Edit: Really? Buried to the bottom for environmental concern questions? Is this another case of YCombinator being unable to adequately respond to critical questions?

Probably close to neutral; maybe better, if their truck is diesel, and it keeps people from driving out of their way to find the cheapest gas in stop and go traffic. It's a pretty insignificant concern, though, relative to the positives (time savings, convenience) and negatives (safety).

I don't see how hauling the gasoline to vehicles could possibly be better unless the tanker was acting as a mobile, stationary (until the tank is emptied) station and came directly from the same place current tankers do (no intermediate storage). In such a scenario, it's possible that there might be a slight improvement. However, from what I can tell this service seems to go wherever someone has parked; meaning lots of traveling and one-off trips for the tankers.

>It's a pretty insignificant concern, though, relative to the positives (time savings, convenience) and negatives (safety).

It seems pretty convenient that the only beneficiary is the person responsible for the negatives (which we will all suffer from).

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