Energy giant Shell has announced its ambition to have 50,000 on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge posts installed across the UK by the end of 2025,
The Anglo-Dutch company said it would significantly extend the charging network for UK drivers who have no off-street parking.
It also revealed it would help to meet the costs for local authorities.
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.”
David Bunch, chairman, Shell UK.
The roll-out through Shell subsidiary ubitricity is part of a wider effort to bring more EV charging availability to millions of UK drivers across Britain.
Councils are trying to get charging networks up-and-running as quickly as possible in advance of a ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars – by 2032 in Scotland and 2040 elsewhere in the UK.
Shell UK chairman David Bunch said: “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.
“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.”
The UK Committee for Climate Change has said the UK needs 150,000 public charge points operating across Britain by 2025.
Shell’s latest announcement covers one-third of that total and is in addition to the rapid roll-out of the company’s charge points at forecourts, supermarkets, businesses and homes, creating a range of charging options.
The UK Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles meets 75% of the cost of installing on-street chargers through the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme.
For local authorities looking to install ubitricity charge posts, Shell is prepared to cover the remaining costs, subject to commercial terms.
Welcoming the offer, Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: “Together with industry and local authorities, we can create cleaner, greener local communities – providing EV charge points for people without off-street parking across the country.
“As more and more people make the switch to electric, this is a great example of how private investment is being used alongside government support to ensure that our EV infrastructure is fit for the future.
“This is crucial as we build back greener and accelerate towards COP26.”
Global ambitions
Shell said around 3,600 ubitricity chargers were already in place in the UK, using existing street infrastructure such as lamp posts and bollards.
Globally, Shell wants to grow its electric vehicle network from more than 60,000 charge points today to around 500,000 by 2025.
This is part of its broader target to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with the ambitions of the UN Paris Agreement on climate change.
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