Rewe and Shell expand DC charging infrastructure in front of supermarkets

Fast charging at the supermarket. This is what Shell and Rewe want to drive forward. In the coming years, up to six DC charging points with up to 360 KW charging capacity are to be erected at around 400 Rewe and Penny supermarkets, each of which will be supplied with 100 percent green electricity. Linda van Schaik, General Manager Mobility DACH, responsible for the Shell petrol station business in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, said:

“The demands of customers with electric vehicles will vary. One has a charging option in his garage, the next charges during work, at the street lamp, in a parking lot or at an ultra-fast charging station at our petrol station. We want to be the partner of choice and thus make it easier for the customer to switch to a battery electric vehicle because he can charge whenever and wherever he wants.”

Telerik Schischmanow, Board Member of the Rewe Group, added:

“The Rewe Group has been obtaining green electricity for its markets, travel agencies, logistics locations and administrations since 2008. For years, we have been successfully operating e-charging stations at selected locations. Together with our strategic partners, we are now massively expanding the e-fast charging infrastructure and making e-mobility significantly easier for our customers. A big advantage is that the ultra-modern e-fast charging infrastructure makes charging possible during shopping. I am convinced that this is exactly the right way to further accelerate the spread of electric vehicles and we are making an important contribution to sustainability and climate protection.”

Shell wants to become a net-zero emissions company in line with society by 2050 at the latest and therefore supports the expansion of electromobility. For this reason, the energy company set the course for building a charging infrastructure at an early stage. As early as 2017, Shell acquired NewMotion, one of the largest European charging providers for home, work, and on the go. At the end of 2019, Shell began building Shell Recharge fast charging stations at Shell petrol stations. Another 50 locations are to be added this year, so that by the end of the year around 240 fast charging points will be operated at 110 Shell petrol stations under the Shell Recharge brand. At the same time, Shell recently acquired the Berlin start-up ubitricity, which aims to enable charging at street lamps. In addition, there is a cooperation agreement with IONITY, the joint venture of BMW, Daimler, Ford, VW and Hyundai, which aims to establish a network of ultra-fast charging stations with 350 KW charging capacity along the European highways. The charging stations now planned at supermarkets are intended to complete the offering for on-the-go needs.

What does this mean?

Alongside EnBw, Shell is one of the most eager expanders of the nationwide charging infrastructure. In doing so, Shell is also increasingly focusing on charging points within municipalities and industrial areas — increasingly also with fast charging technology.