Shell has announced plans to buy ubitricity – the German on-street electric car-charging company.
The oil-giant is under growing pressure to cut its carbon emissions. Shell has set out plans for “green” forecourts, which includes electric charging and biofuels.
The deal is expected to be completed by the end of the year and is a big step in the race for electric vehicle charging as the deadline to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles is 2030.
The head of Shell’s global mobility business, István Kapitány, said: “On-street options such as the lamp post charging offered by ubitricity will be key for those who live and work in cities or have limited access to off-street parking.
“Whether at home, at work or on the go, we want to provide our customers with accessible and affordable EV [electric vehicle] charging options so they can charge up no matter where they are.”
Ubitricity has over 2,700 charge points across the UK and over 1,500 charge points across Germany and France.
Lex Hartman, ubitricity’s chief executive, commented: “Particularly in larger cities where there is limited access to off-street parking, this is the solution many people have been waiting for to allow them to transition to EV ownership. Combining this piece of the puzzle with Shell’s existing range of EV charging solutions gives EV drivers access to a full range of charging options, making Shell and ubitricity a perfect match.”