Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has launched a fast-charging -service for
electric vehicles at three Shell service stations near London and in
northern England.
electric vehicles at three Shell service stations near London and in
northern England.
The company said on Wednesday that the service would charge most
electric vehicle batteries from zero to 80 per cent within half an hour.
electric vehicle batteries from zero to 80 per cent within half an hour.
The project is the oil major’s first foray into
fast-charging-electric-vehicles, whose use is set to grow with
consumers’ demand for cleaner cars.
fast-charging-electric-vehicles, whose use is set to grow with
consumers’ demand for cleaner cars.
Shell will expand the service further in Britain and into the Netherlands and the Philippines, the company said.
The launch comes a week after Shell announced the acquisition of
NewMotion, one of Europe’s largest electric- vehicle charging networks.
NewMotion, one of Europe’s largest electric- vehicle charging networks.
“Shell believes electric vehicles will form a material part of the
transport network going forward,” Jane Lindsay-Green, Shell UK future
fuels manager, told reporters.
transport network going forward,” Jane Lindsay-Green, Shell UK future
fuels manager, told reporters.
Shell expects around a quarter of the world’s car fleet to be electric by 2040.
Currently, there are fewer than 100,000 electric vehicles on the roads.
Morgan Stanley estimates that one million to 3 million public
charging points may be needed in Western Europe by 2030 to meet rising
demand.
charging points may be needed in Western Europe by 2030 to meet rising
demand.
Oil companies are increasingly aware of the threat to parts of their downstream business from electric transport.
Shell rival BP said in August it was in talks with electric vehicle
makers about partnering to offer charging stations at its retail sites.
makers about partnering to offer charging stations at its retail sites.
Customers using Shell Recharge pay 49 pence per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
after the end of a promotional 25 pence-per-kWh offer until the end of
June 2018.
after the end of a promotional 25 pence-per-kWh offer until the end of
June 2018.
They pay using a mobile payment app that is subscription-free. The
service will be available at 10 British locations by the end of the
year.
service will be available at 10 British locations by the end of the
year.
Shell already offers electric-vehicle charging through a partner
scheme in Norway and earlier this year opened a hydrogen refuelling
station in Britain.
scheme in Norway and earlier this year opened a hydrogen refuelling
station in Britain.
“This is a new space for Shell. We need to be exploring different opportunities.
“We’re starting small and are going to learn quickly. Then we’re going to move in 2018 based on what our customers want,”
The European Commission had approved German plans for an
infrastructure network for charging electric vehicles across the
country.
infrastructure network for charging electric vehicles across the
country.
The plan, at a total cost of 300 million euros (319.4 million
dollars) over four years, will require that the electricity comes from
renewable energy sources, with contracts awarded through an open tender
process.
dollars) over four years, will require that the electricity comes from
renewable energy sources, with contracts awarded through an open tender
process.
“Electric vehicles can provide real benefits to society by reducing harmful emissions and noise pollution.
”The German support scheme will encourage consumers and businesses to
use electric vehicles,” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager
said in a statement.
use electric vehicles,” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager
said in a statement.
“It will provide the necessary infrastructure in a cost-effective way
in line with EU state aid rules.” ($1 = 0.9394 euros)
in line with EU state aid rules.” ($1 = 0.9394 euros)
Reuters/NAN
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