What I really don't understand is why don't Shell, Exxon, Chevron and their ilk get into the EV game and start setting up DC fast chargers at all of their gas stations? They profit, and EV range anxiety becomes a thing of the past by having chargers literally everywhere.
> What I really don't understand is why don't Shell, Exxon, Chevron and their ilk get into the EV game and start setting up DC fast chargers at all of their gas stations?
At least in Canada, there has definitely been a push in this direction. Both Petro-Can[1] and Irving[2] have set up fast charging networks at their stations. Many of the Tesla Superchargers in Canada[3] are also located at various gas stations and truck stops (that specifically benefit from more restaurant customers when they use the charger).
I'm guessing for the same reason innovation rarely happens within companies that are printing money by maintaining the status quo. The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen is a good book on this, and the iPhone is another good example that had to come from outside the telecom industry.
Plus, there's an impedance mismatch between EV charging times and the retail store model, in that retail stores want customers in and out ASAP.
Gas stations are usually franchised and the gas companies make good profit from that arrangement. The problem with supporting electric, is that most EV users don’t visit gas stations at all - they charge at home overnight.
It’ll happen but it requires reversing half a century spent pouring money into marketing the idea that climate change isn’t real, won’t be much, etc. They’ll need to reconsider the space usage but one nice thing about EVs is that non-toxic fuel means you can safely spread out through the entire parking lot.
Where I live those big petroleum companies own very few gas stations. Personally I almost always fill up at convenience store chains or truck stop chains--and almost none of those I use are owned by a petroleum producing company.
