Does the movie theatre of the future have a charging port for my vehicle?

Much has been discussed in terms of the filling station of the future. Although the economics have yet to be proven, I’ll hazard a guess, or prediction really, that as soon as 10 years from now, what we will have formerly referred to as a “gas station” will carry at least 3 more vehicle energy sources than just gasoline. I expect gasoline to continue to be commercially available at least through 2060, with the addition of natural gas, bio based fuels, and perhaps even rapid charge electricity offerings at major chain existing gas stations as soon as 2015.

This may be good news for the private sector anywhere individuals arrive at their destination by vehicle. With different standards, alternative fuels may be able to be had at destinations formerly known to offer something completely different to their callers. Could the movie theater, local coffee shop, book store, and supermarket sell stable bio fuels or renewable electricity? I believe the question is not could, but “will” and “when”.

Start-up companies (profitability and long term business models unknown) are vying for their share of the speculative alternative energy vehicle fuels space. Coulomb Technologies has a head start with their electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, gas stations with permits and equipment to sell compressed combustible gases are renewing and keeping their offerings visible to the public.
The circulating questions of gasoline’s near term replacement, and which alternative energy source will win, are falsehoods. Alternative energy standards will emerge as history always shows; however, those standards (yes plural intended) will have generous market shares and long lives. As an analogy, no one vehicle has become the norm or standard, if any were to be termed so, it would be the Ford F150 truck justified by its status of the most commonly sold vehicle globally. Like vehicles, some fuels are better suited to specific geographic locations, duties, personal demands, availability etc.

With just a bit of forward planning, any one of the greener fuels, especially electricity, can be made available with the right timing to the consumer or commercial users at the right locations. The markets are coming.