Gasovia calculates where it pays to refuel and save on fuel

Finding the station with the cheapest fuel does not always mean making the most economical choice. The distance required to get there, the car’s consumption and even the discounts available can make a difference to the final cost.

It was precisely with this in mind that Rafael Teixeira, a Computer Engineering student at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, developed Gasovia, a platform that allows users to compare fuel prices and understand where it really pays to refuel.

The project is developed and maintained by Rafael Teixeira himself, who also works in software engineering and considers Gasovia his main personal project.

The cheapest station is not always the cheapest option

The main difference with Gasovia lies in the way it seeks to help drivers make a decision.

Instead of simply presenting a list of stations ordered by price per litre, the platform takes other important factors into account, such as the distance to the station, the car’s fuel consumption and the discounts available.

In practice, a station may offer a lower price per litre, but no longer be worthwhile if several additional kilometres have to be driven to get there. Gasovia therefore seeks to bring the comparison closer to the actual cost associated with each refuelling stop.

The platform displays fuel stations on an interactive map, allowing users to check nearby prices and compare different options more easily.

According to the available information, the data is aggregated and validated by the platform, including different types of fuel such as petrol, diesel and premium options.

Current prices, history and trends

Gasovia does not limit itself to showing the prices available at a given moment.

The platform also provides historical information and fuel price trends, allowing users to follow changes over time and better understand the behaviour of prices charged at fuel stations.

This information can be useful for those who want to understand whether a particular station tends to respond quickly to price changes or to assess what might be the most interesting time to refuel.

In addition to price comparison, Gasovia also includes information related to efficiency, seeking to help motorists reduce consumption and, consequently, the costs associated with using their car.

The platform is currently focused on Portugal and Spain, allowing users to compare stations on both sides of the border. It is also available in European Portuguese, English, Spanish and French, with expansion into other markets planned.

A free tool created in Portugal

Gasovia is an independent and free project, developed and maintained by a single programmer.

In Portugal, the prices reported by fuel stations can be consulted through the Fuel Prices Portal of the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology. Gasovia’s proposal is to use this type of information and add an additional layer of analysis focused on the motorist’s decision.

In other words, the aim is not simply to answer the question of which station has the cheapest fuel, but rather to understand where it is actually worth refuelling after taking into account the costs involved in travelling there.

For those who drive many kilometres or simply like to compare prices before filling up the tank, tools of this kind can make that decision more informed and help determine when a difference of a few cents per litre represents, or does not represent, genuine savings.

Sources: Turbo, Leak