Shell will install 50,000 on-street electric vehicle chargers in the UK by 2025, the company announced on Wednesday.
The rollout of charging stations will be done by ubitricity, which Shell acquired in February. Ubitricity — owner of the largest public EV charging network in the UK — embeds its technology into existing street infrastructure, like light poles.
The UK’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles covers 75% of the cost of installing on-street EV chargers through its On-Street Residential Charging Scheme. Shell will cover the remaining cost for local authorities interesting in installing ubitricity charge posts.
Ubitricity — owner of the largest public EV charging network in the UK — embeds its technology into existing street infrastructure, like light poles. (Courtesy: Ubitricity) “It’s vital to speed up the pace of EV charger installation across the UK and this aim and financing offer is designed to help achieve that,” said David Bunch, Shell’s UK Country Chair. “Whether at home, at work or on-the-go, we want to give drivers across the UK accessible EV charging options, so that more drivers can switch to electric.”
Shell wants to expand its electric vehicle charging network from 60,000 charge points today to 500,000 by 2025 as part of the company’s net-zero emissions target by 2050.
In the U.S., policy think tank Third Way estimates 1.03 million new charging stations will be needed to meet the demand set by President Biden’s goal of electric vehicles making up 50% of car sales by 2030.
The analysis comes as major automakers have made (non-binding) agreements to significantly boost the share of EVs sold to meet pressing climate goals. But current EV charging infrastructure is extremely inadequate.
“While private companies are building out more and more EV charging infrastructure to accommodate the accelerating shift towards EVs, we need federal support to ensure a robust buildout and to make sure this infrastructure is available to all drivers, including those in rural and underserved communities,” authors Ellen Hughes-Cromwick and Alexander Laska wrote.
The report estimates that $7.5 billion set aside for EV charging infrastructure in the bipartisan infrastructure deal could help fund as many as 600,000 charging stations. The authors recommend an expansion of the 30C Alternative Fuel Refueling Property Credit through budget reconciliation to finish the job.
There are 96,000 public chargers, and 14,000 private ones, in the U.S., according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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