Shell UK has announced that it plans to extend its ambition for installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the UK, with the aim of having 100,000 public charge points by 2030. This is increase builds upon Shell’s previous plans to install 50,000 ubitricity on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge posts across the UK by 2025
The company is planning for 11,000 public chargers to be rapid chargers at locations including charging hubs, forecourts, supermarkets and other destinations. This means that 90 percent of all UK drivers will be within a 10-minute drive of a Shell rapid charger.
These rapid chargers allow many cars to reach 80 percent charge within approximately 30 minutes, depending on the specification of the car battery.
The remaining new chargers in the updated target will be on-street charge points integrated into street infrastructure such as lampposts, like those from ubitricity, which charge vehicles over longer periods and overnight.
In addition to the public charge points, like those from Shell’s installation of electric vehicle chargers at private locations, such as homes and workplaces, will also continue to grow at pace. Shell estimate that by the end of 2030 they could have installed 500,000 such chargers.
Rt Hon Grant Shapps, UK Secretary of State for Transport, said: “The UK’s network of electric vehicle chargepoints is rapidly growing and we’re making it easier than ever for drivers to join the green transport revolution.
“It’s crucial that Government and industry join forces on this transition and Shell’s announcement today will provide a huge boost for drivers, making charging quick and convenient no matter where they are in the UK.
“This step forward supports the Government’s recently published £1.6 billion Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategywhere we committed to making the charging network more affordable and accessible and I hope this news encourages more motorists to take the step towards zero-emission driving.
David Bunch, Shell UK Country Chair, said: “Whether at home, at work or on the go, we want to give drivers charging options so that more can switch to an EV. Access to public charging needs to be made available to everyone, no matter where you live.
“This expansion is part of our planned investment of up to £25 billion in UK energy infrastructure over the next decade, 75% of which will be in low and zero carbon projects. This is a huge investment in the UK energy system of the future.”
Globally, Shell aims to operate 2.5 million electric vehicle charge points by 2030 as part of a broader target to be a net zero emissions energy business by 2050. Shell recently announced a partnership with Tritium, a global developer and manufacturer of direct current (DC) fast chargers, to their business operations in Europe, South Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America.
This is great news for all electric vehicle drivers, including those that don’t have access to off-street parking, Hopefully, this will lead the way to the rapid expansion of public charging.
