Encourage self-payments at petrol kiosks to curb polluting car queues

It is ironic that the oil majors have invested heavily in technologies to produce environmentally cleaner fuel that also achieves superior fuel efficiency and motoring performance, but yet are slow to adopt technologies at pump stations.

At most petrol kiosks here, drivers would top up their fuel and then walk into the station mart to make payment and it is quite common for there to be a queue.

Some drivers may also pick up groceries and use the ATM or the bathroom.

All these happen while their vehicles, already fuelled up, are left stationary while queues of cars form up behind them, waiting for their turns.

During peak hours, the queue may extend to the main roads, causing traffic congestion. The situation is even worse during those occasions when petrol stations run promotions offering special discounts.

Such queues are not environmentally friendly due to the exhaust fumes produced by the waiting vehicles.

This runs counter to the oil majors’ objective of causing less environmental destruction by producing more efficient fuel and green products.

I suggest that all petrol stations be converted into “Fuel and Go” pit stops.

After the vehicles are fuelled up, the drivers would make payment on the spot and then drive out of the pumps immediately.

The pumps would be freed up for the next vehicles.

To be sure, there are already self-service payment options at the pumps, including through the use of apps and electronic tokens. 

But the adoption rate is not encouraging, judging by the proportion of motorists who typically still head into the marts to make payments.

The oil companies ought to take more proactive initiatives to accelerate this “Fuel and Go” strategy implementation, such as coordinated tie-up with card issuers to allow faster contactless payments, higher discounts for self-service payment at the pumps and installing cash machines for drivers who want to pay in cash.

Given the high land costs of petrol stations, I can empathise with petrol station owners or franchisees who want to maximise their investment returns by having a convenience store format in their business model.

But in their pursuit of profits, they should also employ innovative marketing and technology to contribute towards environmental protection.

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