My understanding – and this was material I’ve read over the years about US gas stations, though I imagine that the same might be true for the UK – is that gas stations barely break even on selling gas, and they make their money selling stuff in the attached convenience store. The gas just draws customers.

thehustle.co/…/amp/

Most gas stations barely turn a profit on their core product — and when the price of oil goes up they may even take a loss on it.

Battling small margins, cutthroat competition, and the looming threat of electric vehicles, many gas stations are more reliant than ever on secondary revenue streams.

The real money is made inside the store

Today, 80% of all gas stations have a convenience store on site.

According to a study conducted by the National Association of Convenience Stores, 44% of gas station customers go inside. And among them, 1 in 3 ends up indulging in some kind of treat.

The goods inside these stores — Doritos, sunglasses, lotto tickets, energy drinks — only account for ~30% of the average gas station’s revenue, yet bring in 70% of the profit.

So if you’re a restaurant off the highway or something, having charging stations might be a way to ensure customers.