Nissan Sets Out to Design Fuel Station of the Future

ROLLE, Switzerland — Nissan and international architects from Foster + Partners are teaming up to design and develop the Fuel Station of the Future. The partnership comes as the industry faces a need for a sustainable and innovative refueling network with the market shifting toward alternative sources like electric power, according to the companies. 

They will present their vision for the Fuel Station of the Future later this year, a joint news release reported.  

"The aim of our collaboration with Nissan is to highlight the magnitude of the challenge that we face in evolving our cities to meet change. New technologies, alternative forms of fuel and changing trends within our society are all having a huge impact on the way we get around," said David Nelson, head of design at Foster + Partners.

"It seems to be clear that electric vehicles will be a major feature of the urban landscape and, as a result, this presents an exciting opportunity to rethink the fuel station for future generations; a new approach to design will create a more integrated and communal role within our towns and cities," he continued.

The collaboration comes as the popularity of electric vehicles continues to increase. Sales of Nissan electric vehicles (EVs) rose by 33 percent in 2014 and continue to climb, driven by the ongoing battle to improve urban air quality. Adoption of EVs is reaching a tipping point, and projections suggest that current growth trends will only accelerate in pace, the news release noted. 

"Our current refueling infrastructure model is outdated and faces an uncertain future unless it rapidly adapts to support the changing needs of consumers. By 2020, there will be almost one million EVs on the road, so it is imperative that there is an infrastructure in place to support this growth," said Jean-Pierre Diernaz, director of electric vehicles at Nissan.

"This initiative will take the first steps along that road to examine the wider transportation landscape and reimagine the future of mobility, preparing our cities for a more sustainable future," he added.