\n<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences\u2019 School of Business said the shift from petrol to EVs\u00a0will be gradual, which gives service kiosks time to adjust and find new ways to stay relevant.<\/p>\n
The business model for petrol stations has long been to sell ancillary and convenience services besides petrol, he noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Operators are also diversifying their revenue streams as fuel sales decline due to more efficient vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe margins on these ancillary services are often better than the petrol itself,\u201d he\u00a0said.<\/p>\n
As fuel sales drop, operators that do not pivot may have to bow out. As many petrol stations occupy prime land in residential areas, they have significant potential to be repurposed for community use, said Assoc Prof Theseira.<\/p>\n
But converting petrol stations to pure EV charging stations may not be realistic for Singapore, as they are typically practical for long-distance travel, for instance along Malaysia\u2019s highways, Assoc Prof Theseira said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of having a (dedicated) EV charging hub doesn’t make a lot of sense. In Singapore, users would prefer to bring their EV to a shopping centre, plug in the vehicle, go and eat a meal, and go and run some errands,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, there are about 180 petrol stations islandwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The authority said future plans for these sites will consider evolving land-use needs, including Singapore\u2019s growing adoption of EVs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n