It's a headline that hits the mark. At least for me. With the takeover of the “NewMotion” charging station network, SHELL is setting an example with symbolic power. Just to make this even clearer: A classic mineral oil company takes over a service provider for electric car charging solutions. NewMotion operates (according to company information) more than 30.000 of its own charging stations for electric vehicles and offers access to a total of over 50.000 charging stations from other operators by integrating them into their own billing structure. NewMotion currently has over 100.000 customers.
Change is coming - exchange oil for electricity
With this step, the oil company Shell is demonstrating how seriously the change in drive technologies is currently picking up speed. Even if it still feels like homeopathic cans that make up e-cars when buying a new car, now it seems that even the hardcore fraction of the combustion company believes in the change. With this step, the mineral oil company Shell is demonstrating impressive foresight. Sure, critics will be able to say that the takeover for SHELL is a maximally minor investment (sums have not yet been mentioned) and it is therefore difficult to speak of a turning point. In addition, as an e-car fan, one could of course be afraid that SHELL would simply want to gain control over the competitors in fuel technology and could then brake at will.
But the step is logical.
Change is coming - exchange petrol station for service center
Petrol stations have long been more than just points of sale for petrol. Bread rolls, coffee, post, washing facilities, cafés and parcel shops. That you don't just buy fuel for your own car at gas stations, but recently you have a larger assortment of bread rolls at gas stations than the baker in the neighboring village. So it only seems logical for petrol station operators to consider the potential of those who want to be charged and offer a lounge for e-car drivers. Billing Problems? Done. Standing alone in Wallachia and waiting while the electric car is charging? Done. Load your car, shop for a little something, have a drink in a café and send the returns to Amazon? Anyone who does this at a petrol station today can also charge their electric car in the near future.
Petrol station networks and mobility of tomorrow
If the mineral oil manufacturers and large petrol station chains switch quickly enough, then one will be able to say goodbye to the idea of dying tanks. I see big and small “centers of life” of the mobile person. It is exactly the already suggested mix of lounge, service center and trading center that we would call a gas station in the future. And Shell did the right thing, the right step - not too late - for many probably more than a small surprise.
SHELL wants to continue to grow NewMotion as an independent company and to advance the expansion of a DC charging infrastructure at petrol stations of the Shell, BP and JET brands.