Shell rolls out electric vehicle charging points at fuel stations

Smart oil companies will begin to convert their gas stations to charging stations

Shell has become the first fuel retailer in Singapore to offer electric vehicle charging points at its stations.

Following what it has done in its network in Britain, the Netherlands and China, the Dutch oil giant has equipped its Sengkang station – at 61 Sengkang East Road – with a 50kW direct current (DC) fast-charger.

Nine other stations across the island will have this facility – dubbed Shell Recharge – by October. Shell has 57 fuel stations in Singapore.

But unlike the other markets, Singapore has a negligible electric vehicle (EV) population.

According to the Land Transport Authority, there are only about 1,100 EVs here, accounting for 0.1 per cent of the total vehicle population.

Shell Recharge charges $0.55 per kWh, slightly higher than rates at some other fast-chargers in Singapore.

Shell said the move is part of its strategy to "meet Singaporeans' evolving demand for convenience and mobility solutions".

Part of this involves revamping its network of stations and stocking its station stores with its own food label, Deli by Shell.

Close to 60 per cent of its network have been upgraded, with the rest scheduled to be done by the end of next year.

The move to set up 50kW DC chargers – which can juice up a battery-powered car in 30 minutes – also follows findings from a Shell-commissioned study.

Polling 1,000 people aged 18 and above online in July, Shell found that one-quarter of respondents are open to buying an electric car in the next 24 months, even as half of them feel it is impossible to own one if they live in a high-rise because of a lack of access to a charging station.