The Impact of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations on Gas Station Networks
The article ‘The Death of the Gas Station” by Rebecca Heilweil discusses the future of gas stations in the face of the rapidly expanding network of electric vehicle charging stations. Heilweil argues that gas stations will likely face a number of difficulties as electric vehicles grow in popularity due to a variety of issues, such as governmental support for electric vehicles, improvements in electric vehicle charging technology, and the comparative ease of creating an electric vehicle charging station relative to building a gas station. While the article in and of itself is interesting, it also offers an example of how nuanced networks can be in the “real world” by exploring basic concepts surrounding networks. Moreover, inferences can be drawn about whether overlapping networks of gas stations and electric vehicle charging stations are balanced by connecting the notion of positive and negative relationships to competition.
First, it is interesting to consider the ways in which the article explores how the growing electric vehicle network is superior to that of the network of gas stations. Electric vehicle charging stations can leverage a much more accessible power source and a more extensive underlying power infrastructure within the US than gas stations, which are much more permanent and require a greater extent of infrastructural development. This simplifies the modification process of the network and emphasizes the adaptability of the electric vehicle charging network.
The article also discussed the potential extinction of gas stations due to a greater adoption of electric vehicles. It was particularly interesting to consider the lack of permanence of such an omnipresent network within the United States which boasts “more than 100,000 stations”. Meanwhile, the author discusses the incredible aspirations that are maintained for the electric vehicle charging network, “The White House plans to spend $5 billion as part of a goal to build more than 500,000 public chargers across the country by the end of the decade…and the hope is that there will eventually be chargers at least every 50 miles on the US Interstate Highway System.” The fast expansion of the network of electric vehicle charging stations demonstrates how quickly networks, even those that maintain some degree of permanence in society, can be created. Moreover, it is interesting to consider how different stakeholders in society, such as the government, can have a big impact on the creation of the network structures that support society.
And, the purpose of the network of electric vehicle charging stations is fundamentally different from that of gas stations. Although both networks are meant to provide energy for vehicles that people use for transportation, gas stations are viewed as a destination where an individual goes to fulfill a specific need and potentially go to an adjacent convenience store. However, electric vehicle networks frequently overlap with the paths that people follow throughout a day. Electric vehicle charging stations are more frequently located in a person’s home, at their place of work, at shopping centers, and other locations where people go for purposes outside of simply fueling their car. Because of this, it is interesting to consider how networks with similar underlying functions can be created in different manners to align with societal habits.
Finally, one can consider the edges within the electric vehicle charging station network, a topic that was covered extensively in the ECON 2040 lectures. The constraints relates to the edges of the network are created by the distance that a person can travel before their vehicle runs out of battery. However, beyond this constraint and the underlying power grid that many electric vehicles leverage, there are not distinct connections between the nodes of the electric vehicle charging stations. One can also contemplate the competition that occurs between electric vehicle charging stations, gas stations, and gas stations within electric vehicle charging stations. Given that stations within specific distances of each other may experience underlying competition, it is likely that the combined network of stations forms an unbalanced network. Overall, the electric vehicle charging station network will continue to evolve over the coming decades, likely at the detriment to gas stations. And, as this network evolves, it will be important to consider the impact of society on the formation of the electric vehicle charging station network.
Source: https://www.vox.com/recode/23023671/ev-charging-network-gas-station-fast-charger