[poleposition]

To help kick off a future ahead of electric products, Polestar brought a fuel station installation to a design fair in Italy. Its a cool representation and reminder of our reliance on fossil fuels over the better part of a century. I thought it was a great idea because when things are as common as fuel stations are, forgetting the footprint and overall negative impact they have does happen. Fortunately now that's changing with a move to a greener future beyond anything automotive related.

Its also a good time to consider what will happen to these stations...

• will they become relics of the past?
• will they be modernized for a new era of charging and electrification?
• or re-modelled as cultural spaces?

One of Polestar's higher up's summed it up when questioned by DesignBoom...

‘this is the dawn of a new and exciting electric age. aesthetics are an essential part of our brand, fitting perfectly with salone del mobile and other events at milan design week. the polestar design installations will be thought-provoking and encourage visitors to engage in conversations around the paradigm shift from fossil fuels to electric mobility.

There was also a more interactive install, a slot car track:

through the fuel station and then inside the exhibition, polestar engages visitors with a highly sensorial yet informative game of slot car track. as the cars race around the circuit, guests feel as if actively making a contribution to the installation in the forms of movement, light and sound with the experience intensifying as more players join in. this cultural and playful setting resonates with both the memories of childhood and the vivid experiences of driving an automobile. the aim of the interactive design literally illuminates the fun and simplicity of driving with electricity.

 

[Gunnar]

Could oil and gas companies not retrofit existing stations into EV chargers? I would imagine that the large storage tanks located underground can be replaced with batteries and changing out individual pumps is simple enough.

 

[Olofsson]

Some of the big companies like Shell have already begun to add charging stations to existing petrol locations and that's likely to continue throughout Europe. Unsurprisingly a lot of them have made large investment into EV's as they recognize the sun is setting on ICE's.

 

[poleposition]

Those same energy companies like Shell will win in the end.

Just the footprint of their gas station is enough to win consumers over other alternatives.