Osprey Charging Network has installed its first Shell Recharge electric vehicle (EV) charging point – at Shell Hovefield service station. It comes as part of Shell’s aim to develop an EV charging network for Shell dealer sites across England, Scotland and Wales.
The partnership will see Osprey fund, install and operate high-powered 175 kW Tritium chargers under a lease arrangement, with all units operated under the Shell Recharge brand.
The news comes after Osprey recently installed the first Tritium RTM75 rapid chargers in Europe at a new Starbucks site in Gosport.
Osprey currently operates a public charging network in the UK of over 200 EV charging devices (and 600 connectors), with charging capacities ranging between 50 kW and 175 kW. The business secured £50m of funding in 2019 to deploy over 2,000 rapid chargers by 2024 and Osprey are targeting multiple Shell dealer forecourts in 2021 to join the roll-out programme.
Launched in 2017, Shell Recharge is a subscription-free, on-forecourt electric vehicle charging service. Shell Recharge charge points range in charging capacity from 50 kW to 175 kW. Over the past three years, this service has expanded rapidly and there are now more than 100 EV charging devices (with 276 connectors) available at Shell forecourts across the UK.
Shell aims to increase this to 200 charge points on forecourts by the end of 2021, and aims to grow its EV charging network to over 5,000 EV charge points on forecourts and in new locations by 2025. All charge points – both those on Shell company owned sites and the Osprey Charging Network – are supplied by 100% certified renewable electricity.
Bernie Williamson, Shell UK General Manager, said:
“For electric vehicle use to grow more rapidly, drivers need to feel confident that there are convenient and reliable means of recharging their vehicles when they are travelling.
“With Osprey supporting the development of our EV charging offer at dealer owned sites, we will be able to continue serving busy customers at convenient locations as we aim to be the leading brand for on-the-go rapid charging.”
Osprey Charging is a fully funded, rapid electric vehicle charging network that funds, installs and manages the network on behalf of its partners. Every charging point is powered by 100% renewable electricity. In 2019, Osprey installed London’s first rapid charging hub in partnership with Transport for London, at Stratford International Station car park.
Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging Network said:
“We are delighted to open the first Shell Recharge chargepoint operated by Osprey at a Shell dealer site. This partnership will help us to reach more EV customers through the Shell Recharge branded network.”
As Zap-Map’s launch partner, Osprey’s charge points were the first to be Zap-Pay enabled, allowing Zap-Map users to pay for charging at Osprey’s rapid chargers through the app. The network became Osprey in October 2020, having previously been known as Engenie. No membership is required, with drivers using Zap-Pay, contactless bank card payment or the Osprey app on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Johnston added: “We’re delighted to be selected as the EV charging network partner for Shell’s franchise dealer forecourts. We are targeting multiple Shell sites in 2021 to join our roll-out programme.”
