I don't remember reading about "public investments" to build gas stations for horseless carriages. That was left to private individuals, and corporations, the likes of Standard Oil, et al.
If the demand is there, people will invest in it to turn a profit. It should not be another ripoff of the taxpayer for the benefit of the few.
You may have not read about it, but government did make public investments to encourage use of horseless carriages. Federal, state and local governments built sections of paved roads across the country to encourage use of automobiles. This encouraged private building of paved roads to interconnect the subsidized pieces. This led to the quick decline in use of horses for travel.