Shell has announced plans to deploy 50,000 on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge posts in the UK over the next four years as it seeks to deliver one third of the network required to meet climate change ambitions.
The UK Committee for Climate Change recently recommended that the UK needed 150,000 public charge points operating across the UK by 2025.
Charging networks
According to Shell, its 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 up-and-running as quickly as possible.
Around 3,600 Shell subsidiary Ubitricity’s chargers are already in place in the UK, using existing street infrastructure such as lamp posts and bollards.
“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”
In order to drive take-up to reach the 50,000 target Shell said it will support local authorities with a financing offer to install Ubitricity’s on-street chargers in towns and cities across the UK at potentially zero cost.
More than two-thirds of households in English cities and urban areas do not have off-street parking – this rises to 68 per cent for people living in social housing, according to figures cited by Shell.
“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, UK country chair, Shell.
“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.”
Globally, Shell aims 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.
“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,” added Rachel Maclean, UK transport minister
“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.”
Source: smartcitiesworld.net
Source: IOT NETWORK NEWS
