Reinventing Fuel Stations for an Electric Vehicle World
Here is wishing all of you a happy, healthy and safe 2023.While lot many things happened in the year 2022, the growth in the sales of electric vehicles in India was actually quite remarkable. While the overall percentage is still small (about 5%) when you take total vehicle sales into account, there is no denying that the popularity and acceptance of EVs is increasing at a far faster rate than many of us imagined.
But it's equally true that the expansion of the charging infrastructure has not been able to match and keep pace with the increase in sales and production of EVs. Especially on our highways.
Given this, and the fact that charging EVs takes a lot more time than filling petrol or diesel, I think it's time to reinvent the conventional fuel station as we know it. Fuel pumps have been around for well over a century, but now with the increase in EVs, they have to evolve and cater to the requirements of charging them, in a wholly unique manner.
As everyone knows, an EV user is compelled to stop and wait for a fairly long duration at a charging station, when the batteries require recharging. The question is what do you do for those few hours, when your EV is getting its electric fuel?
This is where I think Indian designers and entrepreneurs, have an opportunity to showcase their creativity and ingenuity, by coming up with truly inventive "New Age EV Charging Stations".
To begin with they need to make a proper floor plan and practical management system with optimized parking in the charging zone with easy entry and exit points for the vehicles. In a conventional fuel station, vehicles just pull over besides the fuel filler and drive off in a few minutes. But, EVs will have to stay parked for longer and for different periods of time, depending on the battery capacities and charging time. So there have to be multiple charging outlets placed in a scientific manner to enable different sized EVs to easily enter the charging area and park and get charged in the appropriate spot, without blocking the entry or exit path of any other vehicle.
This entire floor plan has to be user friendly and should be designed in a way that enhances the efficiency of the total charging process, and also makes best possible use of available space.
Now let's look at what people can do while waiting for their EVs to get charged. Two things most of us love, is eating and shopping. So the "New Age EV Charging Stations" on our highways (and where possible in the cities too), should have enough snack bars, bistros and restaurants offering everything from fast food, to gourmet meals. For connoisseurs of coffee, tea, and other such beverages, we can have specialized cafes to cater to them.
As for shopping, there are numerous options and possibilities. It would be great if people could get local handicrafts and souvenirs, along with all the branded stuff. There can be a farmers market for fresh regional produce and also a supermarket and department store to pick up groceries, toiletries, cosmetics, garments and other such everyday use goods. A pharmacy would also be a nice addition, because presently medicines are quite difficult to find on our highways.
For fitness enthusiasts, the "New Age EV Charging Stations" could provide walking and jogging tracks along with a gymnasium. For those who prefer rest and rejuvenation, there should be some spa like facilities with massages, hot showers, etc.
Silent rooms with beds, and maybe a nice lawn where people could just stretch out or laze under some trees, might also be nice, because after sitting for any length of time in a vehicle, many of us like to lie down or get horizontal. A beauty salon offering haircuts, manicures, facials, etc, will possibly draw patrons too.
There should be some entertainment and recreation opportunities too. A mini-theater showing short films ought to be popular, as should a play area or games for kids. Local magicians, musicians, singers, painters and so on, can also be provided with an arena to showcase their skills.
Yes, there is so much that can be done to make charging EVs on our highways (and where space permits in cities) more comfortable and convenient. Hope someone steps into this space soon and creates "Innovative and Vibrant New Age EV Charging Stations".
All photos courtesy Unsplash.