Future EV-charging stations may make the wait worth it

The Future. EV adoption is going to change more than our roads — it’s going to change how we “gas up.” A design from Scottish architect James Silvester reimagines charging stations as part mini-mall, part spa… and has already drawn interest from a major Canadian gas-station operator. So what does the EV station of the future look like? A place to possibly not only recharge your car, but to recharge yourself.

Take a load off
Canadian EV news platform Electric Autonomy Canada hosted a competition to create “the electric fueling station of the future.”

• The winner, Scottish architect James Silvester, ideated a charging station that had a long linear building in the center with charging ports encircling it (like an EV-friendly Sonic).
• Because charging an EV can take up to a half hour, the space is designed almost like an upscale mini-mall with stores, vendors, an exercise and massage area, and a small garden.

The stations, which would be made from sustainable materials and include solar panels, could also be placed in areas near vista lookouts or popular trails so that they’re actually situated in places people want to stop at.

Pump update
Gas-station operator Parkland, the main sponsor of the competition, was so impressed by Silvester’s pitch that it plans on actually bringing the stations to life. It already plans on opening a network of 25 ultrafast EV-charging stations throughout British Columbia in the next six months, so there’s no reason that they couldn’t alter their existing designs.

Granted, roads could one day be outfitted with charging technology right under the asphalt,  meaning you’ll never have to pull over to fill up ever again. So, in the grand scheme of things, innovations in charging stations may only be temporary.