The move aims to significantly extend charging network for UK drivers who have no off-street parking.
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, through ubitricity, part of the Shell group.
The move is part of a wider effort to bring more EV charging availability to the millions of UK drivers without private parking and help local authorities get their charging networks up-and-running as quickly as possible.
Around 3,600 ubitricity chargers are already in place in the UK, using existing street infrastructure such as lamp posts and bollards. In order to drive take-up to reach the 50,000 figure, Shell will support local authorities with a financing offer to install more ubitricity on-street chargers in towns and cities across the UK.
The UK government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) currently meets 75% of the cost of installing on-street chargers through the On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS).
More than 60% of households in English cities and urban areas do not have off-street parking – this rises to 68% for people living in social housing, according to recent figures.
David Bunch, Shell’s UK Country Chair, 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.”
Transport Minister Rachel Maclean, said: “Together with industry and local authorities, we can create cleaner, greener local communities – providing EV chargepoints 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.”
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 society’s progress in achieving the goal of the UN Paris Agreement on climate change.
Image: Shutterstock
