Shell Considering Creating EV Charging Station Network In UK In 2017

Shell is considering the introduction of electric vehicle charging stations to its network of gas (petrol) stations in the UK, going by recent comments made by a company spokesperson to the Guardian.

This was also revealed by an extensive series of emails between Shell employees and British government transport officials — that were released after a Freedom of Information request by DeSmogBlog. In other words, there is very likely something to this.

The exact statement made to the Guardian reads: “We are examining the potential to introduce electric vehicle charging points across some parts of our UK retail network from early 2017 onwards.”

That’s promising, if true, which it does appear to be based on the newly released emails.

The Guardian provides more: “In one exchange, a Shell staffer on secondment from the Department for Business writes to the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles to suggest electric cars are being held back by a lack of public charging points and the cars’ range, which is typically around 100 miles for many models… In a later exchange, a Shell employee appeals for more detail on the regulatory regime for charging point operators. ‘I have been asked whether Shell will need an electricity supply license if we are to provide a service to customers to charge their electric cars.’ Shell also asks about whether the idea of wireless charging roads in Britain ‘has legs’ and how ambitious the government is about the idea.”

Interestingly, the Freedom of Information request also resulted in the release of emails between ExxonMobil reps and government officials. These emails stand in stark contrast to those between Shell and UK officials, with the firm even sending “slides to Department for Transport officials saying the government should avoid policies that support electric cars because cutting carbon emissions from power stations was cheaper.”

Certainly different approaches.

Photo by EUPK via Foter.com / CC BY-NC