LONDON: Shell opened its first electric vehicle recharging points at three gas stations in Britain on Wednesday, part of the oil giant’s efforts to respond to a global push toward zero-emission vehicles.

Three charging stations are in London, Surrey and Derby, with seven more expected by the end of the year. It comes only days after Shell agreed to buy electric vehicle charging firm NewMotion.

“We recognise that the electric vehicle market is growing in the UK It’s growing very fast,” said Jane Lindsay-Green, future fuels manager of Shell UK, adding that statistics show an increase in electric vehicle registrations.

Shell says the UK is the first country in which its recharging service will be available. The company is working with London transport authorities as the city seeks to remove gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles from its streets by 2050.

It is not surprising that Shell would add electric charging to other services, such as selling coffee or pizza, said David Elmes of Warwick Business School. “The step further is whether they start to see themselves as an energy services company, optimising the multiple sources and uses of energy in homes, offices, factories, communities, etc,” he said, adding that the NewMotion acquisition would fit into this area.

“Shell haven’t been as clear on their ambitions in that area as, say, Total but you can imagine it’s an option they are considering.”

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2017