Will electric cars be the end of gas stations and gas stations as we know them? Not necessarily, Because if it is true that with electricity the demand for gasoline, diesel and LPG will inevitably decrease, we can already see some examples of conversion, especially in Europe.
The evolution of vending machines
In it energy transition strongly desired by the EU little has been said about what could happen with all the distributors, which in the territory of the Union number just under 200,000, of which 21,000 only in Italy (Auto), which of all the European countries seems to be the one with the most (Data from the Autopromotec Observatory). Please note that the number indicates the service stations, not the number of bombs cIt is therefore far superior if we take into account that even the smallest distributor has at least two multi-pump structures. However, if we consider the number of columns in Italy there are just over 30,000, and in Europe more than 320,000. The number, therefore, seems comparable, although for electric ones it is insufficient both because they are poorly distributed and because, given the recharging times, a little more would be needed.
A very different situation from the American one, which sees 145,000 service stations throughout the US, compared to a number of recharging stations that is three times less, equal to barely 45,500 for just over 100,000 columns, at least according to what the American Petroleum Institute and the International Council on Clean Transportation report, and this despite the fact that even the Biden-led White House has a plan similar to that of the European Fit For 55, although less ambitious.
The increasing increase in electric vehicles in Europe and the US and, at the same time, a decrease in the use of cars caused due to the increase in teleworking and home delivery services have generally reduced demand for fuel, especially abroad. All data that will undermine the current fuel retail system. Unless it fits.
From gas stations to charging stations
The evolution of distributors is already underway, and we can proudly say that Italy was one of the countries that started earlier. In Bel Paese, Eni, thanks to the acquisition of Be Charge and the birth of Plenitude, has already seen many of its distributors equip themselves with high power columns. even before, Q8 has signed an agreement with Enel X, so much so that today there are many service stations of the Kuwaiti giant that have one or more multi-socket columns from the Italian energy operator. In fact, Q8 has made agreements with energy operators in almost all European countries: on my trip with the electric 500 to the north I also saw several in Denmark, and in that case the newer ones had updated signs with the prices of petrol, diesel and electricity respectively in DKK per liter and DKK per kWh in relation to the maximum power of the columns
In the mentioned countries, but also in the United States, the conversion is voluntary: even abroad some distributors, as a pilot, are equipped with columns. In other cases, however, it is forced. In Milan, the municipal administration has tried to force gas stations to equip themselves with columns in the coming years, and the same in Germany, where the owners of the service stations have no say because a law has been passed that obliges them to also offer charging facilities for electric vehicles.
Not just electric
Although the direction taken by many institutions is electricity, we already know that it is not the only ecological option. For example, a lot is being done with hydrogen and biofuels, and this could be an opportunity.
Even so, Eni, far ahead of hydrogen, has started a infrastructure program cIt started from Mestre, but in general it is possible that the space currently used for refueling gasoline and diesel could evolve towards a hydrogen pump, especially if we take into account that the way of refueling is very similar and has the same speed.
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