Shell launches first EV charging stations in the UK
Recharge will cost around £20 for electric hatchbacks, and £50 for saloons
Royal Dutch Shell has opened its first electric vehicle charging stations in the UK as part of the oil giant’s plan to expand beyond the sale of fossil fuels.
Owners of EVs and plug-in hybrids can access the charging points at Shell stations in London, Surrey and Derby. The company plans to add a further seven in London and Reading by the end of the year.
Shell says its rapid chargers can take most EV batteries from zero to 80% in around 30 minutes. Each charging station also has its own Wi-Fi system for drivers to access while they wait.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Guardian reports that drivers using Shell’s recharging stations will have to pay 25p per kWh of charge until next June, when the price will nearly double to the standard price of 49p per kWh.
At this standard price, charging a small electric hatchback such as a Nissan Leaf will cost owners around £20, says the newspaper, while the cost for high-end saloons with larger battery packs such as the Tesla Model S will be closer to £50.
The news comes a week after Shell announced its acquisition of NewMotion, “one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle charging networks”, says The Independent.
“Oil companies are increasingly aware of the threat to parts of their downstream business from electric transport,” the website says. Shell’s rival BP is also in talks with electric carmakers “about partnering to offer charging stations at its retail sites”.
Although EVs only account for “about 1% of global car sales and an even smaller fraction of cars on the road”, says the Financial Times, the market is growing rapidly.
This trend is “forcing oil companies to confront an increasing likelihood that global oil demand will slow and eventually decline over the next few decades”, the paper adds.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Are plug-in hybrids better for America's climate goals?
Talking Points The car industry considers a 'slower, but more plausible path' to reducing emissions
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
EV market slowdown: a bump in the road for Tesla?
Talking Points The electric vehicle market has stalled – with worrying consequences for carmakers
By The Week UK Published
-
The week's good news: Dec. 14, 2023
Feature It wasn't all bad!
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
MG4 EV XPower review: what the car critics say
Feature The XPower just 'isn't as much fun' as a regular MG4
By The Week Staff Published
-
Volkswagen ID.5 review: what the car critics say
Feature The ID.4's 'sportier, more stylish twin' – but 'don't believe the hype'
By The Week Staff Published
-
BMW iX1 review: what the car critics say
The Week Recommends BMW’s smallest electric crossover has ‘precise’ steering and a ‘smart interior’
By The Week Staff Published
-
2023 Peugeot e-2008 review: what the car critics say
The Week Recommends This small electric crossover has a ‘sophisticated feel’ and a bigger battery than the original
By The Week Staff Published
-
Lotus Eletre review: what the car critics say
The Week Recommends All-electric hyper SUV is not just entertaining to drive – it’s also ‘extraordinarily well made’
By The Week Staff Published