Petroleum company Royal Dutch Shell is making some major changes to its business model, in keeping with the era of electric vehicles (EVs).
In a press release Thursday, Shell announced plans to build nearly 500,000 charge points by 2025, up from its currently available 60,000 charge points. The plans are to support the company’s larger goal of reducing emissions to net-zero by 2050, an impressive target for the oil and gas company.
Royal Dutch Shell Executive Officer Ben van Beurden said in a statement, “We must give our customers the products and services they want and need – products that have the lowest environmental impact. At the same time, we will use our established strengths to build on our competitive portfolio as we make the transition to be a net-zero emissions business in step with society.”
Shell announced a roadmap to its zero-carbon goal by 2050, which includes 6-8% reductions in carbon by 2023, 20% reduction by 2030, 45% reduction by 2035, and finally, its goal of net-zero carbon levels by 2050. The company also reports that its carbon emissions peaked in 2018, with its oil production having peaked in 2019.
In the meantime, the company hopes it can replace its oil revenues with those generated by electricity through solar, wind power, and other forms of renewable energy, as it benefits the world in a major transition from oil-powered machines to electricity.
While the charging infrastructure remains a major barrier to the mainstream adoption of EVs, Shell’s planned move could provide a major benefit to EV drivers and the infrastructure as a whole – and it just might help save the planet.
