What it is: Electric cars are growing in numbers, which means traditional gas stations will soon become obsolete.
Gas stations exist to help motorists refuse. You need a separate area for gas pumps because you need a large storage tank to hold all the gasoline. Then gas stations essentially became places to sell food, drink, and automotive services based on the need for space to hold a gasoline storage tank.
Electric cars threaten all that. Gas stations may offer electric charging stations like gas pumps, but any other place can do that as well such as malls, coffeehouses, restaurants, and movie theaters. Unlike gas stations that need space for a large storage tank, electric charging stations don’t need anything more than a physical line to conduct electricity. That means electric charging stations can be put anywhere, not just in isolated areas like gas stations.
That means as more people embrace electric vehicles, gas stations are obsolete. Instead of stopping to get gas at a gas station, electric car owners will be able to stop practically anywhere they like to get an electric recharge. Currently, people go to gas stations and shop for snacks from a limited selection at a high price. Tomorrow, electric car owners will be able to go to their favorite supermarket or shopping mall and choose from a much larger selection of options at more reasonable prices.
The simple idea of electric cars will have a ripple effect on the rest of the car industry. Look for electric car charging stations to keep appearing in popular locations like shopping malls. Instead of looking for a convenient place to stop and get gas, electric car owners will first think about what type of food or entertainment they want, and then they’ll go to that location, skipping the traditional corner gas station altogether.
Electric cars are coming with stronger batteries, faster recharging, and lower prices. Whether they’re self-driving or not is irrelevant, and whether their entertainment system inside is CarPlay or something else. As electric cars gain in popularity, gas stations will sink in relevance. If you currently own a gas station, now is the time to sell before it’s too late.