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Alexa can now pay for gas at Exxon and Mobil pumps
The option's available at more than 11,500 stations across the US.
Tesla's massive Supercharger rest stops come online in California
While we're all waiting for the reveal of Tesla's electric semi this evening, the company's new charging stations are ready for prime time. Well, two of them are at least. According to a report at Electrek, Tesla has two new stations active in California, one between LA and San Francisco in Kettleman City and the other in Baker (between LA and Las Vegas). As shown in pictures published by Electrek, the newly online travel stations look a lot like, well, a gas station without the gas.
Google Maps for iOS displays gas prices along your route
As if Google Maps wasn't useful enough already, the application is getting yet another handy feature. Today, Google updated its iOS version of the app to show gas prices when people search for stations, making it easy to see how much each location charges for Regular, Midgrade, Premium and even Diesel.
Google Now starts showing gas stations along your route
Google already has ways to find gas stations before you hit the open road, but it hasn't usually offered relevant stations. Wouldn't you want to see pumps that don't require a big detour? You might not have that problem from now on. Numerous drivers have noticed that Google Now is showing a "gas stations on your route" card that highlights fill-ups based on the direction you're driving. The feature isn't all that practical when you're the one behind the wheel, but it could help your passengers point out those much-needed pit stops well before your tank runs empty. Let's just hope this eventually applies to charging stations as well -- EV drivers need love, too. [Image credit: Kevin McLaughlin, Google+]
Eyeballs-on PumpTop TV
We're still not quite sure whether to file Westinghouse Digital's PumpTop TV network under "because there were a few square inches of advertising-free modern life left" or "because Western civilization demands the right to watch TV absolutely anywhere," but either way we thought it fitting to remind our US readers that these things will start becoming more ubiquitous in major cities this year. The technology isn't new but, much like bell-bottoms, seems to keep coming back unexpectedly despite antipathy from the sane.%Gallery-13246%
Chicago Shell stations trialing biometric payment systems
Simply swiping one's credit / debit card at the pump is probably sufficient for the bulk of us, but for certain Shell customers in Chicago, paying for gasoline is getting even quicker. Ten stations in the Windy City are trialing biometric payment systems -- crafted by California-based Pay By Touch, which has units in a variety of other stores already -- that enable customers to scan their fingerprints, fill up and cruise off. The machines are purportedly linked directly to checking or credit card accounts, which customers initiate at the store or online. Unfortunately, we've no idea if Shell plans on expanding this to other locales after the pilot program has concluded, but Chris Susse, Shell's manager of global refueling innovations (nice title, eh?) did note that he hoped the initiative would increase customer loyalty at the very least.
