Gulf has designed a forecourt concept to demonstrate how the oil brand envisages filling stations evolving over the coming years.
Rather than being tied to one particular fuel type, Gulf sees petrol and diesel rubbing shoulders with EV charging, HVO and hydrogen, with liquid fuels dispensed by robotic pumps that connect automatically with a vehicle’s filling point, and batteries being topped up via wireless pads.
The Certas-licensed brand also expects to see services like parcel delivery integrated via AI and its Oomph smartphone app, while drivers will be able to pre-book charging sessions, their cars being detected by ANPR before being directed to the correct bay by guiding lights. Once connected, pricing and energy information will be projected onto vehicle windscreens.
Other innovations include a comprehensive forecourt water-recycling system; kinetic energy harvesting that converts vehicle movements into electricity; a battery energy storage system; customer lounge and entertainment zones for children, complete with VR gaming; solar roof panels, automated vehicle diagnostics, including tyre changes; and a cutting-edge car wash.
Bryan Main, managing director of Certas UK Mobility comments: “While the film may seem futuristic, many of the ideas featured are already moving closer to reality.
“Consumers increasingly expect connected, convenience-led experiences wherever they go. The opportunity for forecourts is to rethink waiting time entirely – transforming it from dead time into valuable time.”
