Shell loads ultra-fast

Shell loads ultra-fast

In order to enable long journeys by electric car, Shell in Austria is focusing on expanding the Shell Recharge ultra-fast and fast-charging network on the motorway. “We want to provide fast, high-performance charging infrastructure, combined with shop offerings and opportunities to hang out in the Shell Café on the highways,” says Saghi Froughivand, head of Shell’s gas station business in Austria. The first covered charging stations have already been opened on Walserberg, in Ansfelden, St.Pölten, Strengberg, Mondsee and Fürnitz. According to the company, it is currently the fastest charging station in Austria and allows electric cars to be fully charged in a short time. The Terra 360 from ABB is one of the most powerful all-in-one charging solutions and is designed to operate multiple electric vehicles at the same time.

Hartwig Hufnagl, CEO of ASFINAG, emphasizes: "40 percent of Austria's transport performance is provided on the high-level road network. ASFINAG guarantees a comprehensive supply of charging stations at least every 25 kilometers by 2030. For this we need our proven and existing partners like Shell." Fast charging should be in no way inferior to conventional refueling in terms of comfort, user-friendliness and safety. A well-developed fast-charging infrastructure on the main routes supports the next important steps towards climate neutrality and the mobility transition. Implementation plans like these show that the expansion of the public charging infrastructure in Austria is making progress. “As Austria’s control center for electromobility (OLÉ), we work with the BMK to ensure a coordinated approach and network all the players involved,” says Philipp Wieser, AustriaTech / Head of Austria’s control center for electromobility (OLÉ).

Shell aims to become a net-zero carbon emissions company by 2050. One building block for this is the development of a wide range of charging options for electric vehicles. The course was also set early on for this in German-speaking countries. In 2017, the company bought NewMotion, Europe's largest charging provider at the time, which has since been renamed Shell Recharge Solutions. In 2019, Shell began building Shell Recharge fast charging stations at Shell gas stations. In 2021, Shell bought the Berlin startup ubitricity, which enables charging from street lamps. Shell recently acquired SBRS GmbH, a leading provider of charging infrastructure solutions for commercial electric vehicles. There is also a cooperation agreement with IONITY, the joint venture between Audi, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Hyundai, Porsche and VW, to build fast charging stations along motorways in European countries. Shell has the goal of building over 500,000 charging points worldwide by 2025 and 2,500,000 by 2030. In Austria, Shell is also cooperating with REWE to set up Shell Recharge charging stations at 100 BILLA, BILLA Plus and Penny branches.