Powering more of the cars we drive with electricity will be essential to address growing COemissions and air pollution in cities. There are currently around 1 billion cars on the world’s roads. Of these, around 2 to 3 million are pure battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The IEA anticipates there may be 300-400 million EVs on the road out of approximately 2 billion vehicles by 2040.

How will we charge the cars of the future?

Electric vehicles are cars and other forms of mobility that use an electric motor as their main source of propulsion, rather than a conventional engine. They also have their energy stored in batteries. There are three main types of electric vehicles: battery electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and plug in hybrid electric vehicles. If battery electric vehicles rely on their batteries as the only source of energy, Hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles combine an electric drive with a conventional fuel engine.

Unlike traditional cars, which usually only refuel at petrol stations, electric cars have the potential to be recharged at home, at work or on the go. Speed, availability and reliability of charging infrastructure are currently the biggest potential deterrents to buying an electric car.

Shell believes this could change with better access to a choice of recharging options that are suited to the needs of customers and their lifestyles. This could include smart regular chargers, ideal for those charging overnight at their homes or during working hours. It could also include high-powered faster chargers, designed for when drivers are between destinations and in need of a quick top up.

Shell Recharge

Now, charging an electric car is easier with Shell technology, which offers a charging speed of 50 kW with an average charging process of 0-80% in just about 30 minutes!

Get to know more about Shell Recharge

Producing more energy

As the number of electric vehicles on the road grows, Shell is also working to provide more electricity from sources such as wind and solar power that will allow electric vehicles to run on low-carbon power sources. This is part of our wider effort to make electricity a significant part of our business – one that could sit alongside oil, gas and chemicals in the future.