Shell Unveils 'Gas Station of the Future' in London

With the planet burning at a rapid clip, one of the most obvious things that can be done is to cut back on our reliance on fossil fuels. And given the growing popularity of electric vehicles, Shell is taking a step in the right direction by introducing electric-only fueling stations. They company is billing it as the "gas station of the future."

Late last year, the company, which is the largest gas retailer in the world, removed all of the gas pumps from a London fuel station and replaced them with 10 ultra-rapid electric vehicle chargers. Above each charger is a sustainable wood awning with built-in solar panels that can fully charge a Tesla Model 3 in about 30 minutes, for under $40. That's several times faster than the charging stations most EV owners have in their homes.

While drivers wait for their vehicle to charge, they can grab a bite at an on-site fast-casual convenience store or enjoy a cup of coffee at the adjacent coffee shop. There are also lounge chairs and free wifi for customers to use. Since electric vehicles take longer to refuel than traditional combustion engine cars, customers will be at the stations longer and might require more accommodations.

The location is part of a larger initiative to invest in EV infrastructure, as Shell has broad plans to grow its public EV charging network to 100,000 charging points by 2030. Part of this ambition was opening the company's first EV hub in the U.K.

But as Yahoo! points out, the move is a savvy financial one as well. It only makes sense that consumers will spend more money on food and other items while they wait for their vehicle to charge. So not only is Shell cutting back on dirty energy sources, but not even hurting their bottom line while doing so.

Getting consumers on board with EVs is a different story, however. In the U.S, electric vehicle manufacturers ranked dead last in J.D. Power's 2023 Initial Quality Study. However, some of the main frustrations common among EV users is the time it takes to charge and lack of charging stations, so perhaps expanded rapid charging infrastructure is a good place to start.