The return of the small, family run, petrol station
Discussion
Assuming battery vehicles are here to stay, the amount of petrol and diesel business will decline to a point where big business is no longer interested. At that point there would be an opportunity for small businesses to emerge to cater for the diehards still using the internal combustion engine.
The Humer Unbeam thread on PH and Rich Duisberg's books Super, which were inspired by the thread, could be used as the blueprint for small filling stations.
Off Topic Already - Fans of Rich Duisberg's writings may like to know he has just published a book about Derek Robinson - Looking For The Real Red Robbo.
The Humer Unbeam thread on PH and Rich Duisberg's books Super, which were inspired by the thread, could be used as the blueprint for small filling stations.
Off Topic Already - Fans of Rich Duisberg's writings may like to know he has just published a book about Derek Robinson - Looking For The Real Red Robbo.
That could be a long way off, 2040 plus?
I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
As the liquid fuel business declines, some filling stations might shrink in size physically to become a version of the old filling stations but using their existing tanks and power infrastructure. When the Humer Unbeam thread was in full swing I was interested to see a derelict garage site near Bristol Airport with, as far as you could see, just the canopy remaining, was restored to become an unmanned filing station.
This isn't me desperate to return to the Fifties, by the way. I can't see the complete demise of internal combustion engine vehicles but I can see a decline in sales of liquid fuel. Something is needed to bridge the gap.
This isn't me desperate to return to the Fifties, by the way. I can't see the complete demise of internal combustion engine vehicles but I can see a decline in sales of liquid fuel. Something is needed to bridge the gap.
Or
You could buy up an old petrol station, convert it for car cleaning, start a club where members pay x amount each month and then use an app to reserve the facilities to clean their cars how they wish.
Electric cars will still need cleaning and you could install chargers for them too.
Sell car cleaning stuff at a discounted rate to the members to help keep profits turning over, minimal staff needed and if you install a rainwater catching system, after a while you will have your own water supply too*
Just an idea and most likely unworkable
* yes i know it won't be an endless supply and it all depends on rainfall and how big the tank it goes into, plus filters etc. Also, you can buy equipment that seperates resin from acetone if you work in the fibreglass industry, so i'm sure there must be something that can seperate chemicals from water and then you can recycle it back through the system.
You could buy up an old petrol station, convert it for car cleaning, start a club where members pay x amount each month and then use an app to reserve the facilities to clean their cars how they wish.
Electric cars will still need cleaning and you could install chargers for them too.
Sell car cleaning stuff at a discounted rate to the members to help keep profits turning over, minimal staff needed and if you install a rainwater catching system, after a while you will have your own water supply too*
Just an idea and most likely unworkable
* yes i know it won't be an endless supply and it all depends on rainfall and how big the tank it goes into, plus filters etc. Also, you can buy equipment that seperates resin from acetone if you work in the fibreglass industry, so i'm sure there must be something that can seperate chemicals from water and then you can recycle it back through the system.
I am reminded of the time when the general sale of leaded petrol was being phased out. A number of specialist filling stations kept it up (at a much higher price), not for long, though.
A customer of mine ran an independent petrol station, with his sons. The petrol side of it was running at a loss, only kept afloat by the shop sales, and his ebay sideline.
Off topic, Rich Duisberg is promoting his new book in person at various venues around the country over the coming weeks.
A customer of mine ran an independent petrol station, with his sons. The petrol side of it was running at a loss, only kept afloat by the shop sales, and his ebay sideline.
Off topic, Rich Duisberg is promoting his new book in person at various venues around the country over the coming weeks.
Byker28i said:
That could be a long way off, 2040 plus?
I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
What sort of cost are we talking? I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
Its something I've thought about too but I've never seen an independent charging station, always a BP/Shell/Tesla type affair. Must be a reason for that.
CLK-GTR said:
Byker28i said:
That could be a long way off, 2040 plus?
I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
What sort of cost are we talking? I looked at a former garage in Pembroke, large storage area, room for 5 cars parking out front, with thoughts of starting a classic car storage business, huge need for it talking to other owners, with the thought of putting 5 fast charging points for EV's out front as a sideline income.
The quote to install the power ruined any business opportunity. In the end it was bought by someone to store his tractor/vehicle collection.
Its something I've thought about too but I've never seen an independent charging station, always a BP/Shell/Tesla type affair. Must be a reason for that.
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