Shell has opened its first EV charging hub in the UK in Fulham, London, where petrol and diesel pumps at an existing fuel station have been replaced with ultra-rapid charge points.
The number of electric vehicles has grown by more than 3,000 per cent over the past 10 years. According to the UK Government, in early 2010 there were around 9,000 ultra-low emissions vehicles, or ULEVs, in the UK. By December 2021, this number had risen to 370,000 (Source: DfT).
To cater to this growth, Shell has plans to grow its EV charging network to more than 5,000 EV charge points on forecourts and in new locations by 2025.
A global pilot, this is the first time the company has converted one of its existing fuel sites to cater solely for electric vehicles. Shell Fulham features nine high-powered, ultra-rapid 175kW charge points, which can charge most vehicles up to 80 per cent within 30 minutes.
The site features two spectacular timber canopies fitted with solar panels that provide around a quarter of its electricity needs. Shop front double glazing with highly insulating properties reduces energy use for both cooling in the summer and heating in winter, and the chargers all run on 100 per cent certified renewable electricity as well.
It also features a newly formatted sales kiosk housing a Little Waitrose & Partners convenience store and Costa Coffee outlet.
Planning permission for the hub was received in early 2021 and the site opened in January 2022.