Posted on 09/27/2024 12:53:40 PM PDT by Signalman
One of America's LARGEST gas station chains is gearing up to close over 1,000 locations nationwide between 2024 and 2025. Yes, you read that right—over 1,000! But don’t worry, they’re not just pulling the plug and leaving us high and dry. This move is part of a massive shift as the company pivots toward the future of transportation. Who’s behind this gas station shakeup?
WHO’S CLOSING SHOP? Shell, the oil and gas giant we all know, is planning to close a significant number of its gas stations, with California, Utah, and Nevada set to feel the impact. California alone has more than 1,100 Shell locations, while Nevada boasts over 1,000. Utah isn’t off the hook either, with 54 stations scattered across the state. So, what's the deal? Shell is all-in on the electric vehicle revolution. They’re aiming to install around 70,000 EV charging stations by 2025 and an ambitious 200,000 by 2030!
WHAT ABOUT THE SURVIVORS? For those Shell stations that escape the chopping block, things are looking up. These remaining stations will get fancy upgrades, from spruced-up retail spaces to expanded EV charging options and more convenient offerings. So, if your local Shell is sticking around, it’s about to get a serious facelift.
WHICH STATIONS ARE GETTING AXED? So far, Shell hasn’t spilled the beans on which specific locations will be shuttered. The announcement is still under wraps, leaving many to speculate that California, with its dense concentration of Shell stations, will likely see the most closures. Nevada and Utah may also see some of their Shell spots disappear.
Back in 2023, Shell USA bought out the charging company Volta, adding over 3,000 charging stations across 31 states to their portfolio. They’ve got another 3,400 stations currently in the works. So, while some Shell stations are bidding us farewell, it’s clear the company is steering full speed ahead into the electric future.
Better sell your shell stock, their going to end up A “shell” of a company.
Quite the opposite. They're following the trend of building massive rest stop / shopping / gas stations. The local shops were kept going by auto repairs, then small convenience stores, but now can't stay solvent.
An operator needs more customers, less slow times, more goods to sell, easier fuel delivery access, and more fuel capacity than the smaller stations can provide. If you drive across country, you see it more and more where the few gas stations in town close, leaving maybe one gas station / market surviving, and out by the highway is a large rest stop / gas station / shopping center with restaurants.
It's just like the Five-and-Dime on Main Street shutting down while the Mega-Mart out by the highway pulls in customers.
I remember when all 7-11s (at least the ones I saw) had 2 pumps. Then the local regulations went through a few spasms and 7-11 got tired of replacing the tanks and dumped the gas. The Speedway near me is tiny, can’t imagine it’s making money, which sucks because it’s very convenient.
Meanwhile QT is out there with 20 pumps and 2000 square foot stores. It’s hard to compete with them. Circle-K in my area has been putting up megastores.
I don’t think I’d ever eat at a former gas station restaurant. I don’t trust the soil.
“What’s up with “California alone”?”
California, itself, has more than 1100 locations.
They are going the Hertz way.
How many billions did Buttgouge (rhymes with price gouge) get to build Ev stations? How much of that is ending up in Shell’s pockets?
The soda pop/candy machines were always the money makers for gas stations. There is little money in selling gasoline.
I don't know - I've had my share of coffee, buttered rolls, potato chips, and sandwiches that had a little grease, diesel, or parts cleaner flavoring.
Maverik gas stations/convenience stores are cleaning Shell’s clock in Utah. They open a new station about once a month and each one is immediately full of customers.
And the garage, long ago. Now it’s groceries and pizza.
A few Shell stations here in SW WA became Sinclair.
Add 30 recharge stations to each gas station and survive. (/S)
The bloom is off the rose as to EV’s. They are going to lose a ton of money on this. Have they not done the market research have they not looked into any of this close enough?
I wonder where they will be getting the additional power to charge these silly electric vehicles?
No it’s perfect!
Maybe they think they can get one of those seven ev charging stations to make it up.
Shell is NOT “all-in” on EVs: they’ve recently bailed on plans to build and operate a network of EV charging stations, and Shell has been selling off their retail gasoline outlets for several years now, simply getting out of the low-margin, high up-keep filling station business ...
I live in Buc’ees Heaven...lol, there are 4 Buc’ees within 30 minutes of my house, and they are still building in North Texas. The population growth in North Texas is phenomenal. There’s Denton, Melissa (near McKinney), North Fort Worth, and Royce City, about a mile from where my granddaughters live.
I went to an Electrify charger spot and 2 of 4 chargers were missing the cables and the other two were busy. Cable theft for sure. I went to the Shell Recharge nearby and they wanted .65 per kilowatt. Electricify is .56. I went to a different Electrify location. They had all their cables. If I have to buy 40 kilowatts it’s 4 bucks. Shell would have to sell the electricity a little bit cheaper to be in that business. I would guess that the car charging business is not Shell’s best option.
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