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

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

#271
post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You have that degree of decision paralysis over 50 cents?

Probably spends more shopping around than he does saving money.

Nope—all three stations are on the same road, in a 1 mile stretch that I travel frequently. Note the "minor" deviations that I indicate making. I don't ever drive out of my way to get gas; it's always a timing issue.

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

#272
post #249

Having started driving in the age of 99¢/gal gas, I am highly sensitive to price differences between stations, and I choose between 3 stations that are always within 5¢ of each other. I am typically not so price sensitive (with other purchases), but with gas I make minor schedule/route deviations to save Having a service like this would save me some amount of time, I suspect that if I significantly relaxed my fueling…

You have that degree of decision paralysis over 50 cents?

The decision paralysis isn't about the gas stations I frequent, which are all similarly-priced. It's more about the other gas stations that I could use, which are very convenient but sometimes much more expensive ($5/fill up) than the ones I normally go to.

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

#273

Having started driving in the age of 99¢/gal gas, I am highly sensitive to price differences between stations, and I choose between 3 stations that are always within 5¢ of each other. I am typically not so price sensitive (with other purchases), but with gas I make minor schedule/route deviations to save Having a service like this would save me some amount of time, I suspect that if I significantly relaxed my fueling…

> instead of an incremental fuel charge You're still paying separately for the fuel. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding your comment.

My point was that I am very sensitive to few-cent differences in the price of gas, because when I first started driving, each penny difference was a 1% difference in the gas price. Now that gas is roughly triple that (here in sunny CA, at any rate), each penny is 1/3 of 1% difference. So in my case, I'm more (psychologically, if irrationally) open to paying a "convenience fee" than a surcharged gas price.

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

#274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This service will not expand to all cars?

No. It won't. A small minority of people will find a service like this valuable. Most people will continue to buy gas the way they do today, until and unless EVs really become practical.

Then they'll pivot to running around charging cars.

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

#276
post #95

How do they open your gas tank? I think the most interesting part is their partnership with Firestone... On demand car servicing while you are at work seems like it solves a bigger problem than filling up with gas.

I wonder if there has been a roadblock to that that needs solving. Because replacing auto glass while you're at work has been a thing for a very long time.

My guess?

Quick-service car maintenance is profitable because they can be efficient.

They have a guy at Jiffy Lube "below deck" so the car doesn't need to be jacked, lifted, or crawled under to start draining the oil.

The second you lose "home court" you lose any procedural efficiency your business has.

I have enough trouble crawling under my car in my own driveway, I can't imagine having to work on a car in a corporate parking lot, surrounded by others.

It's also messy, so I'd imagine it's pretty hard to do anything while making sure the cars parked half a foot away, are clean and untouched. Glass replacement at least is relatively self contained.

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

#277
post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Does it really stress you out that much? The only time low fuel stresses me out is on I-80 when I know for a fact the closest station is a hundred miles away. I also don't get these 40 minute estimates. On one of my little motorbikes I used to fuel up and back on the road in no more than 3 minutes, and my truck doesn't take more than 5-8.

If I stay on my optimized routes I can get from work to home pretty quickly. But if I stray to hit a gas station, I never know when I'm going to end up stuck in a micro-jam that sucks back 10 minutes or more. Each way. And it feels like an hour.

First world problems for sure, but I'd happily pay to be rid of that inconvenience. And while they're at it, I'd pay an extra $10 for them to do a quick wash of my car once a month.

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

#278

Starting a company to make gasoline powered cars MORE convenient is absolutely unethical. Any engineers working on this project should be ashamed for using their skills to make the world a worse place.

Hi I'm one of the founders. Many people think this upon hearing about the service but the logic is flawed because: A) It does not consider that we are building more cost effective alternative fuel delivery infrastructure that can help accelerate the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles other than electric such as the Toyota Mirai and Honda FCX Clarity. B) Does not consider that efficient gasoline delivery can reduce…

Aspirational economies of scale and future technologies developed by others do not change the fact that you have chosen to pour your life energy into selling gasoline from the back of a fleet of pickup trucks.

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

#279

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's similar in America; AM-PM and 7-11 usually have "food" and also sell gas.

Huh? I remember this being the case in the 1990s. In UK at least

It's developing here to have co-branded outlets under one roof, looking very premium, sometimes sharing staff to minimise costs.

Down the track, they may become distribution/pick-up hubs. Most of them are very well located.

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

#280

Starting a company to make gasoline powered cars MORE convenient is absolutely unethical. Any engineers working on this project should be ashamed for using their skills to make the world a worse place.

Hi I'm one of the founders. Many people think this upon hearing about the service but the logic is flawed because: A) It does not consider that we are building more cost effective alternative fuel delivery infrastructure that can help accelerate the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles other than electric such as the Toyota Mirai and Honda FCX Clarity. B) Does not consider that efficient gasoline delivery can reduce…

>B) Does not consider that efficient gasoline delivery can reduce carbon emissions and the number of polluting underground gas station tanks.

Can you please share your analysis of how much your company reduces carbon emissions?

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