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A comment on German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars. Parent comment

Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by knieveltech on Thursday December 01, 2016 @12:27PM (#13081315)
That may not happen. According to various sources fuel sales are not where gas stations make their money. On average they are only bringing in 3 cents of profit on a gallon of fuel. They sell fuel primarily to attract customers and then make their profits on sales of snacks, cigarettes, lottery tickets, and the like. Disrupting the cycle of impulse buys by individuals lured to the store to buy fuel is likely to have a measurable impact on business, but it is unclear if this would drive any/some/most/all convenience stores out of business.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by rplst8 on Thursday December 01, 2016 @01:28PM (#13081967)
The gas gets them in the door. People are a lot less likely to stop if they don't have to. Since electric cars take a lot longer to charge, they don't mesh well with the convenience store model. More like restaurants.

I think convenience stores will go through quite a huge change in the next 20 years. Small mom and pop gas stations without much of a "store" to speak of will probably disappear entirely.

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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by HeyLaughingBoy on Thursday December 01, 2016 @04:42PM (#13083811)
I honestly can't think of the last time I've seen a gas station that only sells gas or diesel. At least around here, they just don't exist. The "gas station" is the convenience store around here. I doubt their patronage would drop off much if they stopped selling gas.

Gas stations around here sell anything from the usual cigaretter, pop & snacks to really good "home made" food. I can think of one that had a small, very good, Mexican restaurant in the back and another that made gyros, falafel, etc. to order. I would go out of my way to stop at those.

But gas only? I simply can't remember seeing one in the last 10 years. The closest is the ones that are service stations that happen to have a few gas pumps.

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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by WorldMaker on Thursday December 01, 2016 @05:36PM (#13084225)
"Mostly" gas only pumps started reappearing in the last 10 years as a part of big supermarket chains. From one point of view they are mostly just gas pump islands floating in a sea of parking, but from the other point of view the nearby supermarket is simply an absurdly large convenience store.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by lakkal on Friday December 02, 2016 @04:13PM (#13092345)
The ones around here that aren't part of a convenience store are part of a car repair place.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by nedsma on Thursday December 01, 2016 @02:34PM (#13082646)
Also we'll see many service businesses (e.g. restaurants, theaters, public garages, malls) offering electric car charging for free or for a smallish fee depending on their type. So, instead of going to a gas station, you would go to a nearest mall, let the car charging while you do the shopping.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by camiller on Thursday December 01, 2016 @03:42PM (#13083329)
I think we will see some development of quick charge technology this will mitigate those concerns to a certain extent.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by bjelkeman-again on Thursday December 01, 2016 @12:49PM (#13081560)
Since I got an electric car I only go to an old gas station to wash the car. There may be ways for them to stay in business, but I still think it will be disruptive for many.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by greglindahl on Thursday December 01, 2016 @12:54PM (#13081626)
Occasionally I need to clean my windshield or put some air in my tires... maybe twice a year? I don't think that's going to help the gas stations stay in business.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by solatic on Thursday December 01, 2016 @01:16PM (#13081834)
Right, probably gas stations will either add charging capability in a supercharger fashion, or they'll just turn into convenience stores.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by cesis on Thursday December 01, 2016 @01:51PM (#13082229)
But who would be willing to spend a couple of hours in a gas station?
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by pipio21 on Thursday December 01, 2016 @03:43PM (#13083334)
Anyone doing a long journey. You can use the time to eat, relax from four hours driving.

I charge my electric car in my house everyday. I don't think about that. Way more convenient that going to the gas station.

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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by Gibbon1 on Thursday December 01, 2016 @05:47PM (#13084309)
More likely road food places will simply add charging stations. Also possible someone will make a business washing peoples windows in the parking lot.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by solatic on Thursday December 01, 2016 @01:55PM (#13082278)
People probably wouldn't go there for full charges, but 20 minutes to go from a few percent to 20% to get home? Yeah, I see that happening.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by WorldMaker on Thursday December 01, 2016 @05:38PM (#13084239)
Long-Haul Truckers
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by ams6110 on Thursday December 01, 2016 @07:46PM (#13085037)
Who goes into the store? When I buy gas, I pay at the pump, 5 minutes and I'm gone and good for another 300+ miles.
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Re:German Leaders at Odds with Industry Over Electric Cars by knieveltech on Friday December 02, 2016 @03:32AM (#13087052)
People that need to use the bathroom or want to buy food, a soft drink, beer, cigarettes, lottery tickets, etc.
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