Shell opens first all-electric charging station at West London location

Shell has opened its first EV charging hub in the UK. At the former fuel station in Fulham, London, petrol and diesel pumps have been replaced with rapid charge points.

This is the first time Shell has converted one of its existing sites to cater solely for electric vehicles, and the site is serving as a global pilot scheme for the company.

Shell Fulham features nine high-powered, 175kW rapid charge points which can charge most vehicles from 0-80% within 10 minutes, three times faster than more widely used 50kW fast chargers.

István Kapitány, Shell’s global executive vice president for mobility, said: “EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is as fast, convenient and comfortable as possible.”

He continued: “Shell Fulham joins our growing network of Shell Recharge sites at forecourts and other locations, our Ubitricity on-street charging network, and our Shell Recharge Solutions for homes and businesses as we increasingly help EV drivers to charge wherever they need it. It also gives us all a glimpse into the future of mobility.”

UK Transport Minister Trudy Harrison welcomed the move, saying: “With more people making the switch to EVs than ever before, this is exactly the type of facility we need to help make the transition as simple as possible.”

Shell Fulham features a sustainable design including a timber canopy with built-in solar panels, and roof and shop windows that employ double glazing with high insulating properties. Like all of Shell’s EV chargers in the UK, including those at 119 Shell forecourts, the chargers at Shell Fulham run on 100% certified renewable electricity. The hub includes a seating area, free wifi, a Costa Coffee cafe and a Waitrose shop.

EV sales in the UK are accelerating rapidly. In December 2021, 27,705 EVs were sold, making up 25.5% of all new registrations that month.

Shell has previously stated an ambition to install 50,000 on-street chargers in the UK by 2025 through its Ubitricity division, and in July 2021 it announced that up to 800 Shell electric vehicle charging points would be installed at 100 Waitrose sites across the UK by 2025.

Shell plans to expand its EV charging network to more than 5,000 charge points on forecourts and in new locations by 2025.