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Sunday, 20 February 2022

Oil giant Shell turned an old gas station into an EV-only charging hub with free WiFi and solar panels in its timber canopies. Take a look around.

Shell Recharge in Fulham, at night. It has bright lights and wooden canopies in place of the metal canopies at traditional gas stations. — Shell Recharge in Fulham, London, opened in January 2022.
Stephen Jones

Oil giant Shell converted one of its gas stations into an EV-only charging hub.
It features nine charge points, a supermarket, a coffee shop, and free WiFi.
Shell said it's the first time it has converted one of its old gas stations in this way.

You won't find any fossil fuel-powered cars filling up at Shell's old gas station on Fulham Road, London, UK.

What was once a run-of-the-mill gas station is now something rather different. Shell has converted the site into a charging hub exclusively for electric vehicles (EVs).

The Shell Recharge station opened in January 2022. According to Shell, it's the first time it has converted one of its existing gas stations into an EV-only charging hub.

Demand for new EVs is outpacing charging infrastructure. Some 190,000 new EVs were registered in the UK in 2021, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – yet there are just under 29,000 EV charging points in the UK, according to ZapMap, whose figures are cited by the UK government.

Campaigners say the mismatch could hinder the mass adoption of EVs, making it hard for the government to meet its goal of phasing out sales of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles by 2030. President Joe Biden wants EVs to represent half of US new car sales by the same year.

So companies including Shell are investing to meet EV demand.

Shell's old Fulham Road gas station was pretty run-of-the-mill

Shell Recharge — Google Street View image taken in October 2020.
Screen shot/ Google Maps

It's been updated with tall wooden canopies fitted with solar panels

A digital sign shows drivers which charging bays are occupied and which are available

Shell Recharge, a digital sign indicates when charging points are occupied. — Stephen Jones, Business Insider

Another sign directs fossil fuel-powered vehicles to the nearest gas station

A sign at Shell Recharge garage in Fulham, directs motorists to the nearest petrol or diesel station. — Stephen Jones

It's pretty clear who's allowed in the charging bays

The words EV only are written in the parking bay at Shell Recharge Fulham, to let drivers know that it is only for electric vehicles. — Stephen Jones

Shell Recharge features a Costa coffee shop, Waitrose grocery store, and free WiFi

Shell Recharge, Costa and Waitrose — Stephen Jones

Shell Recharge has nine rapid, 175-kW charging points and two parking spaces. Drivers can make use of free WiFi, grab a coffee, or go grocery shopping while they wait for their car to charge.

The charging bays are already being used by EV drivers

One customer, Rebecca, who was drinking coffee while waiting for her rental Renault Zoe E-Tech Electric car to charge, told Insider that Shell Recharge was easy to use.

"It's idiot-proof, you just tap and go," she said – but admitted it wasn't as quick as a filling up a regular car.

About 14 minutes after arriving on nearly 0% charge, Rebecca's car was at 38%.

"You have to plan your time," she said. But with fuel prices in the UK at a record high, she added: "Why would I want to go out of my way to spend more money?"

Rebecca told Insider she'd spend around £8 ($10.86) on her charge.

Drivers pay for their electricity on the Shell Recharge app or card, via contactless payment, or using a QR code. Shell charges £0.49 ($0.66) per kWh.