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Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

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Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#51

Post by toomuchtodo »

macinjosh wrote: post #10
toomuchtodo wrote: post #3

A lounge. There are too many today, tens of thousands will close. Most charging will take place at home or at work. EVs support payment by VIN with crypto primitives negotiating with the charger over the charger cable before charging starts, so how ever you’ll fund that balance (likely instant payments). https://www.axios.com/2022/07/15/gas-stations-prices-closing

most people certainly do not live in a place that has a garage with dedicated charging port. people who leave their cars outside to charge will be subject to vandalism and pranksters cutting/disconnecting the cables. electric vehicles are luxury vehicles for people with means.

In 2023, the U.S. had approximately 85.3 million single-family detached homes and 8.2 million single-family attached homes, totaling around 93.5 million single-family homes. This represents the majority of the nation's housing stock.

Rebates exist for a reason to install EV chargers at home. Certainly, it will take time, but the transition is inevitable at this point. The average daily round trip commute is less than 40 miles, which is ~12 hours of charging on a 15A 120V household outlet. Electricity is ubiquitous, and installing interfaces is relatively inexpensive and straightforward.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#52

Post by billybuckwheat »

I'm hoping it'll be like the GridServe electric forecourts in the UK: a place to charge your car, have a snack, do a bit of shopping or relax, or rent an office pod for a few hours. Wishful thinking, maybe, but what good is trying to peer into the future without a bit of that kind of thinking?

https://www.gridserve.com/electric-vehicle-charging/electric...

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#53

Post by defrost »

Bender wrote: post #8

will it sell gas? Yes and especially diesel which will not go away for a few generations. There are no EV replacements for heavy trucks and they do not appear to be viable yet. 3500 through 7500 series. Battery tech will have to make science fiction level improvements. When those trucks are gone society comes to a stand-still. Comparison to earth moving equipment in mines do not apply. what convenience items will it…

> There are no EV replacements for heavy trucks and they do not appear to be viable yet.

Janus Electric has been converting prime movers to electric since 2019, listed on the ASX this year, and have demonstrated viability.

* https://primemovermag.com.au/body-electric/

* https://www.januselectric.com.au/news/janus-unveils-first-el...

* https://www.januselectric.com.au/

So far they've barely made a dent in global big truck numbers but they're planning to expand over the next few years .. and there are others in the same business.

> Comparison to earth moving equipment in mines do not apply.

Why not? These fleets have been quasi electric since the 1970s, have serious ongoing research into fully renewable replacement paths, and are responsible for a massive chunk of transport fuel usage given the sheer number of mines in the world and numbers such as iron ore mining in one Australia state alone accounting for > than a billion tonnes moved by trucks alone (including overburden, etc).

These aren't trucks that refuel at gas stations, but they are a considerable sink for fossil fuels.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#54

Post by HappMacDonald »

thomassmith65 wrote: post #44
kcplate wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO gas stations haven’t changed all that much over the last 50 years (forget the 15) beyond: - now having larger buildings to incorporate more convenience products (mostly foodstuffs) for sale - more pumps

That's pushing it around a decade too far back. Today, every gas station is self-serve, and often you can pay by card at the pump. 50 years ago, plenty of gas stations still had attendants. One guy would fill the tank (possibly with 'leaded'), another might give your windshield a quick wipe. You could ask for them to check your oil, too. Not too much has changed since the '80s though.

In Oregon self-serve only became legal a few years ago so we still have plenty of full service stations and attendants to this day.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#56

Post by aaron695 »

kcplate wrote: post #24
codegeek wrote: post #16

Not much. 15 years ago was 2010. Gas stations in 2025 are very similar to Gas stations from 2010. I doubt they will be too different in 2040. May be a few more EV chargers.

IMO gas stations haven’t changed all that much over the last 50 years (forget the 15) beyond: - now having larger buildings to incorporate more convenience products (mostly foodstuffs) for sale - more pumps

[dead]

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#57

Post by johnea »

I already don't go to gas stations.

I have a really hard time understanding the pushback to elctrification.

Very fewe people (like almost none) drive more than 300 miles in a day 8-/

Most people in the plains states where the resistance is highest, live in single family homes where they could easily charge overnight.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#58

Post by more_corn »

pkulak wrote: post #29

Most countries will have fast chargers with one gas pump for the remaining ICE cars. That’s already happening in Norway, for example. The US? After a decade plus of authoritarian rule and the near outlaw of EVs, we’ll have exactly the same gas stations and cars, all produced right here because the rest of the world doesn’t want them.

It’ll be a throwback culture desperately trying to cling to the tired myth of 1950s white suburban American supremacy while China leads the way into the future with bullet trains, fast charging electric cars and solar everywhere.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#59

Post by anenefan »

If the future doesn't get totally stupid, there will probably be a small decline in gas stations much like in areas where industry has dropped off.

There will still be fossil based fuel for sale.

There may depending on how soon the world gets over the big misconception that fuels made from plant oils have to be bio fuels - additional bowsers for regular fuel that was created though cracking (in the same petro-refineries) organic oil as the input stock to produce an almost identical fuel to that which is made from fossil based sources - it might cost a little bit more though.

Possibly an area for refuelling liquid based fuel cell powered vehicles.

Re: Ask HN: In 15 years, what will a gas station visit look like?

#60

Post by drivingmenuts »

tomcam wrote: post #39
pkulak wrote: post #29

Most countries will have fast chargers with one gas pump for the remaining ICE cars. That’s already happening in Norway, for example. The US? After a decade plus of authoritarian rule and the near outlaw of EVs, we’ll have exactly the same gas stations and cars, all produced right here because the rest of the world doesn’t want them.

Can you explain to me about the near outlaw of EVs?

In short, the Republican Party is in bed with oil producers and many elected politicians are heavily invested in oil or oil-adjacent companies. The same party is anti-Science in a way that is nearly impossible to comprehend and, as such, scoffs at global warming and you can work the rest out from there. The Republicans have the majority in the House, the Senate and the Oval Office. The Supreme Court is conservative. Right now, we're probably the modern equivalent of Germany in 193x.

I think that about covers it. All of the above means an EV-hostile environment here.

Oh, and our biggest EV maker is a Neo-Nazi supporter.

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