When we think of infrastructure we most often focus on the familiar — highways, bridges and rail transportation and, more recently, broadband internet access.

But there’s another sort of infrastructure being built that is receiving less notice, one that loosely mirrors what was happening 100 years ago.

On Monday, Starkville Utilities announced it will add two fast-charging electric vehicle stations as part of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to install these fast-charge stations at 50-mile intervals along interstates and major highways throughout its service area, including Columbus.

We note that 100 years ago, the emergence of the gas-powered automobile led to the emergence of “filling stations” throughout the country. Today, we are witnesses to another major milestone in the history of travel.

It’s not a direct comparison, of course. People who owned gas-powered cars did not have the option of fueling their autos at home, something that many of today’s electric car owners enjoy.

But the emergence of a large network of charging stations will assure the traveler that no matter where they journey, they’’ have easy access to the kind of fuel they need. It’s going to change the landscape of travel.

Just as gas-powered cars required infrastructure — gas stations, paved roads and highways — the emergence of the electric car has created demand for its unique infrastructure as well. A report by Bloomberg projects that by 2040, nearly 60 percent of cars sold in the U.S. will be electric.

It’s speculation, of course, but not far-fetched to believe that by the end of the century, gas-powered passenger cars will be a novelty, a niche’ for antique collectors.

There is another interesting element to this build-out of electric car infrastructure, one that has a parallel to the evolution of the automobile.

Gasoline sales built a new concept of retail sales — the convenience store. In fact, it’s pretty difficult to buy gas at a station that is not connected to some variation of the convenience store.

The profit margin for fuel sales is low. The real profits are found in the food and drink and other products that capture the attention of the motorist, who may stop for fuel, but often cannot resist the urge to purchase those items.

While it takes only a matter of minutes to fill a car with gasoline, the fueling time for an electric vehicle is far longer, which means the growth of electric vehicles may support a model much different that the convenience store.

Columbus attorney Gawyn Mitchell, who owns three electric cars, has noticed what might be the marriage of electric cars to retail.

“I noticed that the charging station in Pearl is located next to an outlet mall,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think that’s a coincidence, either. When you’re at a charging station for several hours, what are you going to do? I think you’ll see these stations located close to shops and restaurants, places where you can go while your car is being charged.”

As one technology replaces another, there are always winners and losers. When it became convenient for people to drive cars and companies to ship via trucks, the era of the railroad fell into steady decline.

Might the same fate await the ubiquitous convenience store as autos transition from gasoline to electricity? It’s an interesting dynamic to ponder.

Some of those changes we can anticipate. It’s likely others will catch us by surprise.

One thing is certain. We are living in a very interesting time, a time where the greatest revolution in travel in a century is unfolding before our eyes.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.

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