9:18 am, September 3, 2021
The UK’s charging network has been handed a major boost after Shell announced plans to install 50,000 on-street electric vehicle chargers by 2025.
The move will see the oil giant provide a third of the 150,000 charging points that the government’s climate change committee is targeting by four years’ time.
The additional charging points will be provided through Shell’s Ubitricity subsidiary, purchased in January.
It is hoped that the move will help ease concerns about EVs from people living in cities, where off-street parking is at a premium.
The Times reports that they will be installed on top of the firm’s existing pledge to install 5,000 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers by 2025.
A whopping 75 per cent of the installation costs will be funded by a government scheme after Shell slumped to a record loss of $19.9bn last year.
The firm’s UK boss has welcomed the announcement and said the additional charging points are ‘vital’.
David Bunch, Shell’s UK chairman, said: ‘It’s vital to speed up the pace of electric vehicle 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 news has also been welcomed by transport minister Rachel Maclean.
The Tory MP said: ‘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 [the UN climate conference in Glasgow].’
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