Shell says connections not keeping pace with charger deployment
Published 10 June 2021
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Shell has 40 rapid electric vehicle (EV) chargers lying idle because it has not been able to secure grid connections for the devices, one of the company’s executives has said.
Roger Hunter, Shell UK vice-president for electric mobility told MPs on the House of Commons’ transport select committee yesterday (9 June) that the rollout of EV charging requires more joined up thinking.
As an example, he said: “We have 40 rapid chargers at Shell that we have built with covers on because we haven’t synched up with the power team in order to make the connections. It’s just one example of one arm not knowing what the other is doing.”
Hunter also said that ambitions to roll out rapid chargers should not be confined to motorways but should be extended to A routes on the trunk road network.
He said Shell had recently spent “millions” of pounds upgrading the electricity connections at one of its locations in order to enable rapid charging.
“We have a number of sites where we are looking to put in fast chargers and it’s costing millions.
“It’s not a slam dunk that there is going to be enough charge points in these areas: we need to get over the very serious cost hurdle of grid upgrades.
“Getting the policy right is really important.”
Hunter said upgrading the power networks around depots and logistic hubs would become increasingly pressing as a growing share of the van and truck market switches to electricity, which he predicted would pick up over the next five years.
The government has set a goal that each motorway service area (MSA) should have “at least” six open access 150 to 350 kw capable charge points, rising to 12 at larger sites.
Ofgem approved funding last month for upgrading connections to MSAs and key trunk road locations across the country required to enable the installation of 1,800 ultra-rapid electric charge points.
Graeme Cooper, head of future markets at National Grid, told the same transport committee hearing that a mass switch over to EVs is “achievable” but will require “very clear policy direction” from government to provide investors with certainty.
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