Tesla might build convenience stores at its charging stations
09-23-17, 12:03 PM
#1
Tesla might build convenience stores at its charging stations
Tesla plans to roll out more electric supercharging stations this year, especially in big cities, which should double the size of its network. But even with more places to juice up your Tesla, it still takes far longer to refill an EV than gassing up a fossil fuel-powered car. But the electric vehicle maker is considering adding small convenience stores to the stations so you can relax and refuel yourself while you wait.
As Grub Street noted, earlier this week at FSTEC, the food tech conference, Tesla's CTO JB Straubel mentioned that folks are already spending time waiting for their cars to charge -- why not make their stay a little more comfortable? "People are coming and spending 20 to 30 minutes at these stops," waiting for their Teslas to suck up electric power, Restaurant Business quoted Straubel saying at the conference. "They want to eat, they want to have a cup of coffee, they want to use the bathroom."
Straubel reportedly showed the audience mock-ups of service stop designs, which had begun to resemble traditional convenience stores. Not that Tesla will get into the business itself -- instead, it would seek partners to run them. Straubel noted that the company has already been working with restaurants, and "That can only start scaling up."
As Grub Street noted, earlier this week at FSTEC, the food tech conference, Tesla's CTO JB Straubel mentioned that folks are already spending time waiting for their cars to charge -- why not make their stay a little more comfortable? "People are coming and spending 20 to 30 minutes at these stops," waiting for their Teslas to suck up electric power, Restaurant Business quoted Straubel saying at the conference. "They want to eat, they want to have a cup of coffee, they want to use the bathroom."
Straubel reportedly showed the audience mock-ups of service stop designs, which had begun to resemble traditional convenience stores. Not that Tesla will get into the business itself -- instead, it would seek partners to run them. Straubel noted that the company has already been working with restaurants, and "That can only start scaling up."
09-23-17, 02:36 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Sounds like an interesting proposal for customer convenience (especially for rest rooms)...but the last thing the company itself needs, right now, is more overhead from running more shops.
09-23-17, 02:58 PM
#4
But the electric vehicle maker is considering adding small convenience stores to the stations so you can relax and refuel yourself while you wait.
09-23-17, 08:23 PM
#6
Lexus Champion
Why would it be difficult to partner with Tesla to set up convenience and fast-food stores at Supercharger locations? If the agreements are not too restrictive, and allow for well-known and well-accepted chains to set up shop, they would be guaranteed a captive audience.
I know of examples here in the province of Ontario, Canada. For years, there have been rest stops catering to families on road trips along Highway 401, the major east-west highway in Ontario; they sell fuel and generally offer a restaurant with restrooms. For years, they were contracted out to not-well-known restaurants, and for whatever reason, they slowly went out of business: perhaps the food was not particularly appetizing and the restrooms were not always clean.
Then, a few years ago, the government partnered with Tim Hortons, a well-known Canadian coffee chain. Now, the parking lots are full, the restrooms are clean and bright, and the lineups at the cash registers are long. Travelers no longer mind stopping at these rest stops.
I know of examples here in the province of Ontario, Canada. For years, there have been rest stops catering to families on road trips along Highway 401, the major east-west highway in Ontario; they sell fuel and generally offer a restaurant with restrooms. For years, they were contracted out to not-well-known restaurants, and for whatever reason, they slowly went out of business: perhaps the food was not particularly appetizing and the restrooms were not always clean.
Then, a few years ago, the government partnered with Tim Hortons, a well-known Canadian coffee chain. Now, the parking lots are full, the restrooms are clean and bright, and the lineups at the cash registers are long. Travelers no longer mind stopping at these rest stops.
09-24-17, 03:23 AM
#7
Lexus Fanatic
Why would it be difficult to partner with Tesla to set up convenience and fast-food stores at Supercharger locations? If the agreements are not too restrictive, and allow for well-known and well-accepted chains to set up shop, they would be guaranteed a captive audience.
I know of examples here in the province of Ontario, Canada. For years, there have been rest stops catering to families on road trips along Highway 401, the major east-west highway in Ontario; they sell fuel and generally offer a restaurant with restrooms. For years, they were contracted out to not-well-known restaurants, and for whatever reason, they slowly went out of business: perhaps the food was not particularly appetizing and the restrooms were not always clean.
Then, a few years ago, the government partnered with Tim Hortons, a well-known Canadian coffee chain. Now, the parking lots are full, the restrooms are clean and bright, and the lineups at the cash registers are long. Travelers no longer mind stopping at these rest stops.
I know of examples here in the province of Ontario, Canada. For years, there have been rest stops catering to families on road trips along Highway 401, the major east-west highway in Ontario; they sell fuel and generally offer a restaurant with restrooms. For years, they were contracted out to not-well-known restaurants, and for whatever reason, they slowly went out of business: perhaps the food was not particularly appetizing and the restrooms were not always clean.
Then, a few years ago, the government partnered with Tim Hortons, a well-known Canadian coffee chain. Now, the parking lots are full, the restrooms are clean and bright, and the lineups at the cash registers are long. Travelers no longer mind stopping at these rest stops.
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09-24-17, 08:00 AM
#8
Lexus Champion
09-24-17, 07:46 PM
#10
As for the Tesla supercharger stations, I figured they were already like a regular gas station with drinks, snacks, and a Subway or McDonalds if you were lucky. Or that they were integrated into an existing gas station/truck stop.
09-24-17, 08:40 PM
#11
Lexus Champion
I don't think the oil giants will be too keen on this.
09-24-17, 09:11 PM
#12
Convince stores(the stores themselves) don't make much $$$$ selling gas, its all that overpriced junk food that they make their real $$$$ on. As for the oil giants, I'd partner with Tesla if it meant more foot traffic in my stores buying way marked up Cokes and candy.
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