Free to follow every thread. No paywall, no dead ends.
Filling station: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Filling station
The first known filling station was not a purpose-built structure but a city pharmacy in Wiesloch, Germany, where Bertha Benz refilled the tank of the first automobile on its maiden trip from Mannheim to Pforzheim back in 1888. This event marked the birth of the modern fueling industry, as the pharmacy sold gasoline as a side business shortly thereafter. The Bertha Benz Memorial Route now commemorates this historic journey, which was the first long-distance automobile trip ever taken. The car was a Benz Patent-Motorwagen, and the act of refueling it at a pharmacy set the stage for the global network of fueling stations that would follow. The pharmacy's role as a fuel depot was a precursor to the specialized facilities that would emerge in the early 20th century. The event was so significant that it is now recognized as the world's first filling station, even though it was not designed for that purpose. The story of Bertha Benz and her husband, Carl Benz, is a testament to the early days of the automobile and the need for fueling infrastructure. The pharmacy's location in Wiesloch, Germany, was a strategic choice, as it was a key stop on the route from Mannheim to Pforzheim. The event was so significant that it is now recognized as the world's first filling station, even though it was not designed for that purpose. The story of Bertha Benz and her husband, Carl Benz, is a testament to the early days of the automobile and the need for fueling infrastructure. The pharmacy's location in Wiesloch, Germany, was a strategic choice, as it was a key stop on the route from Mannheim to Pforzheim.
The Drive-In Revolution
The first drive-in filling station in the United States was the 1912 Standard Oil of Ohio auto filling station at the corner of Young and Oak streets in Columbus, Ohio. The motorist drove in the front door, had his tank filled, and drove out the back. This innovation changed the way people refueled their vehicles, as it allowed them to do so without leaving their cars. The station was also the first architect-designed station and the first to distribute free road maps. Before the drive-in filling station, automobile drivers pulled into almost any general or hardware store, or even blacksmith shops to fill up their tanks. Several years would elapse before checking oil, water, and selling tires would give rise to the concept of a gas service station. The first drive-in station was a significant milestone in the history of the automobile, as it allowed for a more efficient and convenient way to refuel. The station's design was a precursor to the modern gas station, with its own unique features and innovations. The station's location in Columbus, Ohio, was a strategic choice, as it was a key stop on the route from Columbus to other major cities. The event was so significant that it is now recognized as the first drive-in filling station, even though it was not designed for that purpose. The story of the drive-in station is a testament to the early days of the automobile and the need for fueling infrastructure. The station's location in Columbus, Ohio, was a strategic choice, as it was a key stop on the route from Columbus to other major cities.
Where was the first known filling station located and when did it occur?
The first known filling station was a city pharmacy in Wiesloch, Germany, where Bertha Benz refilled the tank of the first automobile on its maiden trip from Mannheim to Pforzheim back in 1888. This event marked the birth of the modern fueling industry, as the pharmacy sold gasoline as a side business shortly thereafter.
When and where was the first drive-in filling station in the United States built?
The first drive-in filling station in the United States was the 1912 Standard Oil of Ohio auto filling station at the corner of Young and Oak streets in Columbus, Ohio. The motorist drove in the front door, had his tank filled, and drove out the back, changing the way people refueled their vehicles.
What health risks are associated with living near a filling station?
People who live near filling stations are exposed to fumes and are at increased lifetime risk of cancer, with risk increased if there are multiple stations nearby. There is some evidence that living near a filling station is a risk for childhood leukemia, and gasoline can leak into the surrounding soil and water, posing many health risks.
How many filling stations were in the United Kingdom in 2012 and how many were there in 1992?
The UK had 8,385 filling stations in 2012, down from about 18,000 in 1992 and a peak of around 40,000 in the mid-1960s. The decline in the number of filling stations in many countries is due to a variety of factors, including the rise of self-service stations, the consolidation of the industry, and the shift towards electric vehicles.
When was the first self-service station in the United States opened and by whom?
The first self-service station in the United States was in Los Angeles, opened in 1947 by Frank Urich. In Canada, the first self-service station opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1949, operated by the independent company Henderson Thriftway Petroleum, owned by Bill Henderson.
Gasoline contains a mixture of BTEX hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes). Prolonged exposure to toluene can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, and chlorinated solvents can cause liver and kidney problems. Benzene in particular causes leukemia and is associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. People who work in filling stations, live near them, or attend school close to them are exposed to fumes and are at increased lifetime risk of cancer, with risk increased if there are multiple stations nearby. There is some evidence that living near a filling station is a risk for childhood leukemia. In addition to long-term exposure, there are bursts of short-term exposures to benzene when tanker trucks deliver fuel. High levels of benzene have been detected near stations across urban, suburban, and rural environments, though the causes (such as road traffic or congestion) can vary by location. Gasoline can leak into the surrounding soil and water, posing many health risks. Areas formerly occupied by filling stations are often contaminated, resulting in brownfields and urban blight. Underground storage tanks (USTs) were typically made of steel and were common in the United States, but were prone to corrosion. They began to receive national attention in 1983 after an episode of 60 Minutes documented significant drinking water contamination from a Mobil gas station in the Canob Park neighborhood of Richmond, Rhode Island. It had been determined that the station's underground tanks had been leaking gasoline into the local water system since the station opened in 1968. This led to regulations banning these types of tanks in 1985. However, tanks at gas stations that ceased operation before 1986 are unlikely to have been recorded, and many old underground gasoline and oil storage tanks are thus unknowingly buried beneath redeveloped land, contributing to soil, groundwater, and indoor air pollution. Because of the relatively small size of former stations (compared to larger brownfields), the cost-per-acre to rehabilitate the land is higher; the total cost in the United States is not known but is in the billions of dollars. Individual cleanups may be complex, with some in Canada taking decades and costing millions of dollars both for the cleanup efforts and in legal fees to determine whether individuals, governments, or corporations are liable for costs. The cost of potential cleanup of a former filling station can lower property values, discourage development of land, and depress neighbouring property values and potential tax revenue. When areas are known to be contaminated by leaking underground storage tanks, the sale value of the land and neighbouring area drops. An analysis of residential properties in Cuyahoga County, Ohio estimated the loss at about 17% when within or one block of a registered leaking tank. Active filling stations have similar negative effects on property values, with an analysis in Xuancheng, China finding a loss of 16% within and 9% when between and .
The Global Fuel Economy
In European Union member states, gasoline prices are much higher than in North America due to higher fuel excise or taxation, although the base price is also higher than in the US. Occasionally, price rises trigger national protests. In the UK, a large-scale protest in August and September 2000, known as 'The Fuel Crisis', caused wide-scale havoc not only across the UK, but also in some other EU countries. The UK Government eventually backed down by indefinitely postponing a planned increase in fuel duty. This was partially reversed during December 2006 when then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown raised fuel duty by 1.25 pence per liter. Since 2007, gasoline prices in the UK rose by nearly 40 pence per liter, going from 97.3 pence per liter in 2007 to 136.8 pence per liter in 2012. In much of Europe, including the UK, France and Germany, stations operated by large supermarket chains usually price fuel lower than stand-alone stations. In most of mainland Europe, sales tax is lower on diesel fuel than on gasoline, and diesel is accordingly the cheaper fuel: in the UK and Switzerland, diesel has no tax advantage and retails at a higher price by quantity than gasoline (offset by its higher energy yield). In 2014, according to Eurostat, the mean EU28 price was €1.38 /L for euro-super 95 (gasoline), €1.26 /L for diesel. The least expensive gasoline was in Estonia at €1.10 /L, and the most expensive at €1.57 /L in Italy. The least expensive diesel was in Estonia at €1.14 /L, and the most expensive at €1.54 /L in the UK. The least expensive LPG was in Belgium at €0.50 /L, and the most expensive at €0.83 /L in France. Nearly all filling stations in North America advertise their prices on large signs outside the stations. Some locations have laws requiring such signage. In Canada and the United States, federal, state or provincial, and local sales taxes are usually included in the price, although tax details are often posted at the pump and some stations may provide details on sales receipts. Gasoline taxes are often ring-fenced (dedicated) to fund transportation projects such as the maintenance of existing roads and the construction of new ones. Individual filling stations in the United States have little if any control over gasoline prices. The wholesale price of gasoline is determined according to area by oil companies which supply the gasoline, and their prices are largely determined by the world markets for oil. Individual stations are unlikely to sell gasoline at a loss, and the profit margin, typically between 7 and 11 cents a US gallon (2, 3 cents per liter), that they make from gasoline sales is limited by competitive pressures: a gas station which charges more than others will lose customers to them. Most stations try to compensate by selling higher-margin food products in their convenience stores. Even with oil market fluctuations, prices for gasoline in the United States are among the lowest in the industrialized world; this is principally due to lower taxes. While the sales price of gasoline in Europe is more than twice that in the United States, the price excluding taxes is nearly identical in the two areas. Some Canadians and Mexicans in communities close to the US border drive into the United States to purchase cheaper gasoline. Due to heavy fluctuations in price in the United States, some stations offer their customers the option to buy and store gasoline for future uses, such as the service provided by First Fuel Bank. In order to save money, some consumers in Canada and the United States inform each other about low and high prices through the use of gasoline price websites. Such websites allow users to share prices advertised at filling stations with each other by posting them to a central server. Consumers then may check the prices listed in their geographic area in order to select the station with the lowest price available at the time. Some television and radio stations also compile pricing information via viewer and listener reports of pricing or reporter observations and present it as a regular segment of their newscasts, usually before or after traffic reports. These price observations must usually be made by reading the pricing signs outside stations, as many companies do not give their prices by telephone due to competitive concerns. It is a criminal offense to have written or verbal arrangements with competitors, suppliers or customers for: Fixing prices and exchanging information on prices or cost (including discounts and rebates), Limiting or restraining competition unduly, Engaging in misleading or deceptive practices. Gas stations must never hold discussions with other competitors regarding pricing policies and methods, terms of sale, costs, allocation of markets or boycotts of our petroleum products.
The Service Station Evolution
In the US, a filling station that also offers services such as oil changes and mechanical repairs to automobiles is called a service station. Until the 1970s the vast majority of filling stations were service stations. These stations typically offered free air for inflating tires, as compressed air was already on hand to operate the repair garage's pneumatic tools. While a few filling stations with a service station remain, many in the 1980s and 1990s were converted to convenience stores while still selling fuel, while others continued to offer services but discontinued offering fuel. This kind of business provided the name for the US comic strip Gasoline Alley, where a number of the characters worked. In the UK and Ireland, a 'service station' refers to much larger facilities, usually attached to motorways (see rest area) or major truck routes, which provide food outlets, large parking areas, and often other services such as hotels, arcade games, and shops in addition to 24-hour fuel supplies and a higher standard of restrooms. Fuel is typically more expensive from these outlets due to their premium locations. UK or Irish service stations do not usually repair automobiles. Highway service centre This arrangement occurs on many freeways or motorways including those that are tolled, and are generally referred to as rest areas ((UK), services (UK), travel plaza, rest stop, oasis (US), service area, rest and service area (RSA), resto, service plaza, lay-by, service centre). In the United Kingdom and Ireland these are called motorway service areas. In many cases, these centers might have a food court or restaurants. They provide drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting onto secondary roads. Often, the state government maintains public rest areas directly connected to freeways, but does not rent out space to private businesses, as this is specifically prohibited by law via the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 which created the national Interstate Highway System, except sites on freeways built before the 1st of January 1960, and toll highways that are self-supporting but have Interstate designation, under a grandfather clause. As a result, such areas often provide only minimal services such as restrooms and vending machines. Private entrepreneurs develop additional facilities, such as truck stops or travel centers, restaurants, gas stations, and motels in clusters on private land adjacent to major interchanges. In the US, Pilot Flying J and TravelCenters of America are two of the most common full-service chains of truck stops. Because these facilities are not directly connected to the freeway, they usually have huge signs on poles high enough to be visible by motorists in time to exit from the freeway. Sometimes, the state also posts small official signs (normally blue) indicating what types of filling stations, restaurants, and hotels are available at an upcoming exit; businesses may add their logos to these signs for a fee. In Canada, the province of Ontario has stops along two of its 400-series highways, the 401 and the 400, traditionally referred to as 'Service Centres', but recently renamed 'ONroute' as part of a full rebuild of most of the sites. Owned by the provincial government, but leased to private operator Host Kilmer Service Centres, they contain food courts, convenience stores, washrooms, and co-located gas and diesel bars with attached convenience stores. Food providers include Tim Hortons (at all sites), A&W, Wendy's and Pizza Pizza. At most sites fuel is sold by Canadian Tire, with a few older Esso gas bars at earlier renovated locations.
The Safety And Regulation Landscape
In most countries, stations are subjected to guidelines and regulations which exist to minimize the potential of fires, and increase safety. It is prohibited to use open flames on the forecourt of a filling station because of the risk of igniting gasoline vapor. In the United States, establishing fire codes and enforcing their compliance is the responsibility of state governments. Most localities ban smoking, open flames and running engines. Since the increased occurrence of static-related fires many stations have warnings about leaving the refueling point. Cars can build up static charge by driving on dry road surfaces. However many tire compounds contain enough carbon black to provide an electrical ground which prevents charge build-up. Newer 'high mileage' tires use more silica and can increase the buildup of static. A driver who does not discharge static by contacting a conductive part of the car will carry it to the insulated handle of the nozzle and the static potential will eventually be discharged when this purposely-grounded arrangement is put into contact with the metallic filler neck of the vehicle. Ordinarily, vapor concentrations in the area of this filling operation are below the lower explosive limit (LEL) of the product being dispensed, so the static discharge causes no problem. The problem with ungrounded gasoline cans results from a combination of vehicular static charge, the potential between the container and the vehicle, and the loose fit between the grounded nozzle and the gas can. This last condition causes a rich vapor concentration in the ullage (the unfilled volume) of the gas can, and a discharge from the can to the grounded hanging hardware (the nozzle, hose, swivels and break-a-ways) can thus occur at a most inopportune point. The Petroleum Equipment Institute has recorded incidents of static-related ignition at refueling sites since early 2000. Although urban legends persist that using a mobile phone while pumping gasoline can cause sparks or explosion, this has not been duplicated under any controlled condition. Nevertheless, mobile phone manufacturers and gas stations ask users to switch off their phones. One suggested origin of this myth is said to have been started by gas station companies because the cell phone signal would interfere with the fuel counter on some older model fuel pumps causing it to give a lower reading. In the MythBusters episode 'Cell Phone Destruction', investigators concluded that explosions attributed to cell phones could be caused by static discharges from clothing instead and also observed that such incidents seem to involve women more often than men. The US National Fire Protection Association does most of the research and code writing to address the potential for explosions of gasoline vapor. The customer fueling area, up to above the surface, normally does not have explosive concentrations of vapors, but may from time to time. Above this height, where most fuel filler necks are located, there is no expectation of an explosive concentration of gasoline vapor in normal operating conditions. Electrical equipment in the fueling area may be specially certified for use around gasoline vapors.
The Global Network Of Stations
The UK has 8,385 filling stations, down from about 18,000 in 1992 and a peak of around 40,000 in the mid-1960s. The US had 114,474 stations in 2012, according to the US Census Bureau, down from 118,756 in 2007 and 121,446 in 2002. In Canada, the number is on the decline. As of December 2008, 12,684 were in operation, significantly down from about 20,000 stations recorded in 1989. In Japan, the number dropped from a peak of 60,421 in 1994 to 40,357 at the end of 2009. In Germany, the number dropped down to 14,300 in 2011. In China, according to different reports, the total number of gas/oil stations (at the end of 2018) is about 106,000. India, 60,799 (as of November 2017). Russia, there were about 25,000 stations in the Russian Federation (2011). In Argentina, as of 2021, there are more than 5,000 stations. The largest filling station networks in Europe (2017) include TotalEnergies with 8,200 stations, Shell with 7,800 stations, BP with 7,000 stations, Esso with 6,100 stations, Eni with 5,500 stations, Repsol with 4,700 stations, Q8 with 4,600 stations, Avia with 3,000 stations, PKN Orlen with 2,800 stations, and Circle K with 2,700 stations. The decline in the number of filling stations in many countries is due to a variety of factors, including the rise of self-service stations, the consolidation of the industry, and the shift towards electric vehicles. The number of filling stations in the UK has declined significantly since the mid-1960s, with the number of stations dropping from around 40,000 to 8,385. The number of stations in the US has also declined, with the number of stations dropping from 121,446 in 2002 to 114,474 in 2012. The number of stations in Canada has also declined, with the number of stations dropping from about 20,000 in 1989 to 12,684 in 2008. The number of stations in Japan has also declined, with the number of stations dropping from 60,421 in 1994 to 40,357 in 2009. The number of stations in Germany has also declined, with the number of stations dropping to 14,300 in 2011. The number of stations in China has increased, with the number of stations reaching 106,000 in 2018. The number of stations in India has also increased, with the number of stations reaching 60,799 in 2017. The number of stations in Russia has also increased, with the number of stations reaching 25,000 in 2011. The number of stations in Argentina has also increased, with the number of stations reaching 5,000 in 2021. The largest filling station networks in Europe include TotalEnergies, Shell, BP, Esso, Eni, Repsol, Q8, Avia, PKN Orlen, and Circle K. The decline in the number of filling stations in many countries is due to a variety of factors, including the rise of self-service stations, the consolidation of the industry, and the shift towards electric vehicles.
The Future Of Fueling
The first alternative fuel station was opened in San Diego, California, by Pearson Fuels in 2003. Maryland officials said that on the 26th of September 2019, RS Automotive in Takoma Park, Maryland became the first filling station in the country to convert to an EV charging station. The first self-service station in the United States was in Los Angeles, opened in 1947 by Frank Urich. In Canada, the first self-service station opened in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1949. It was operated by the independent company Henderson Thriftway Petroleum, owned by Bill Henderson. In Brazil, self-service fuel filling is illegal, due to a federal law enacted in 2000. The law was introduced by Federal Deputy Aldo Rebelo, who claims it saved 300,000 fuel attendant jobs across the country. Before 1998, filling stations in Japan were entirely full-service stations. Self-service stations were legalized in Japan in 1998 following the abolition of the Special Petroleum Law, which led to the deregulation of the petroleum industry in Japan. Under current safety regulations, while motorists are able to self-dispense fuel at self-service stations, generally identified in Japanese as, at least one fuel attendant must be on hand to keep watch over potential safety violations and to render assistance to motorists whenever necessary. Filling stations in South Korea offer a variety of services, such as providing bottled water or tissues, and cleaning free of charge. But most have switched to self-service. Some large full-service stations have many services, such as tire pressure charging, automatic car washing, and self-cleaning. Some of them are free to gas customers who spend more than a certain amount. In the US, a filling station that also offers services such as oil changes and mechanical repairs to automobiles is called a service station. Until the 1970s the vast majority of filling stations were service stations. These stations typically offered free air for inflating tires, as compressed air was already on hand to operate the repair garage's pneumatic tools. While a few filling stations with a service station remain, many in the 1980s and 1990s were converted to convenience stores while still selling fuel, while others continued to offer services but discontinued offering fuel. This kind of business provided the name for the US comic strip Gasoline Alley, where a number of the characters worked. In the UK and Ireland, a 'service station' refers to much larger facilities, usually attached to motorways (see rest area) or major truck routes, which provide food outlets, large parking areas, and often other services such as hotels, arcade games, and shops in addition to 24-hour fuel supplies and a higher standard of restrooms. Fuel is typically more expensive from these outlets due to their premium locations. UK or Irish service stations do not usually repair automobiles. The future of fueling is likely to be shaped by the rise of electric vehicles, the shift towards renewable energy sources, and the increasing demand for sustainable transportation. The number of filling stations in many countries is declining, as the demand for gasoline and diesel fuel decreases. The number of electric vehicle charging stations is increasing, as the demand for electric vehicles increases. The future of fueling is likely to be shaped by the rise of electric vehicles, the shift towards renewable energy sources, and the increasing demand for sustainable transportation. The number of filling stations in many countries is declining, as the demand for gasoline and diesel fuel decreases. The number of electric vehicle charging stations is increasing, as the demand for electric vehicles increases.