Here’s one of the oldest debates in the gas station and c-store industry: free air or pay air?
Free air brings people to the lot. Pay air generates revenue. You have to choose one, right?
That’s the question we heard from operators for years. But it’s the wrong question.
The better question is: How do we offer free air and still get those customers inside the store?
Excel has spent years talking with gas station owners and c-store operators about what actually happens at the forecourt. The same frustration kept coming up: free air gets drivers to stop, but too often, they fill their tires and drive away without ever stepping inside for coffee, snacks or anything else.
Pay air solves part of the problem by creating a new revenue stream—but it still doesn’t drive customers through the c-store door.
Operators shouldn’t have to choose between the two. They need a way to offer free air and turn that stop into an opportunity for in-store traffic.
That’s exactly what the SC05-SS Kiosk Hybrid Air Machine was built to do.
And in states with free-air requirements, the opportunity is even more relevant. California and Connecticut currently require fuel retailers to provide free air for tire inflation. The Kiosk provides a way to meet those requirements while creating a reason for customers to come inside the store—turning a required amenity into a potential driver of foot traffic and sales.
How the Kiosk Hybrid Air Machine Works
The entire process takes about 20 seconds.
The Kiosk is a small unit that lives inside your store, while the air machine stays outside. Here’s how it works:
- A driver wants free air, so they head inside to the Kiosk.
- They tap the screen and receive a four-digit code, valid for six hours and expiring after one use.
- They head back outside, enter the code at the air machine and fill up for free.
But here’s the important part: before they get their free air, they’re standing inside your store.
The coffee is right there. So are the snacks, drinks and everything else they might grab while they’re in.
And if they’d rather skip the trip inside? They can pay by card right at the air machine.
Either way, the machine is working for you. Free air creates a reason to come inside. Pay air keeps the machine generating revenue around the clock.
One machine. Two ways to deliver value—without having to choose between free air and pay air.
Built for the C-Store Forecourt
The Kiosk Hybrid isn’t just designed to change how customers access free air. It’s built to make the entire air program easier to manage.
- EMV card reader: Accept cashless and contactless payments directly at the air machine.
- Digital air calibration: Delivers fast, automatic inflation with accuracy to within 0.5 PSI.
- Wireless monitoring: Track machine activity, usage and revenue remotely.
- Stainless steel construction: Built for year-round outdoor use in demanding forecourt environments.
- Custom branding: Match the machine to your store or brand.
The indoor Kiosk itself is about the size of a shoebox, weighs less than 10 pounds and sits right on the counter without interfering with your POS system.
Common Questions From Gas Station & C-Store Operators
If you’re running a gas station or c-store, the questions worth asking aren’t about the PSI range, but whether this is worth the investment.
Can I offer both free air and pay air at the same location? Yes. The SC05-SS Kiosk Hybrid Air Machine was built to do exactly that. Customers can walk inside the store to get a free air code or pay a nominal fee by card directly at the air machine. Either way, they get the air they need—and operators get more flexibility from a single machine.
Will this slow down my staff? No. The Kiosk doesn’t touch your register. It’s a standalone unit that prints a code – your team doesn’t ring anything up or manage anything manually.
What if my free-air machine breaks down? Wireless monitoring means you’ll know before your customers do. You can check machine status, usage, and revenue from your phone instead of finding out from a complaint.
Is this going to feel like one more piece of equipment I have to babysit? It’s very user-friendly and built to handle the conditions your current setup already survives — extreme cold, extreme heat, constant outdoor exposure — with a stainless housing that’s meant to hold up, not just look good on install day.
Does it actually change customer behavior, or is it just a nicer machine? This is the part owners are really noticing. A driver who used to fill up and leave now has a reason to walk inside — even if it’s just for two minutes to grab a code. Two minutes inside a c-store is two minutes near a cooler, a snack aisle, and a register.
One Air Machine. Two Ways to Create Value.
The real advantage of the Kiosk Hybrid Air Machine isn’t simply that it offers free air and pay air. It’s that each option serves a different purpose.
Customers who want free air have a reason to walk inside your store, creating an opportunity for additional purchases. Customers who prefer convenience can pay by card directly at the air machine, creating revenue without requiring anything from your staff.
Meanwhile, wireless monitoring gives operators visibility into machine activity, usage and revenue without adding another piece of equipment for employees to manage.
Instead of choosing between free air and pay air, you’re giving customers the choice—and giving your air machine more than one way to work for your business.
Ready to rethink what your air machine can do for your store? Talk to Excel about the SC05-SS Kiosk Hybrid Air Machine.
