DCC Energi, part of FTSE 100-listed DCC plc and a licensee of Shell in Denmark, is making a significant investment in the electric vehicle (EV) space by rolling out a network of fast chargers at its Shell-branded sites, while developing charging solutions for private homes and businesses. The energy company will lead its customers on the energy transition by offering Danish EV owners a comprehensive package of charging and payment solutions that will make it convenient to use an EV. In the first phase, DCC Energi will install fast chargers at five Copenhagen retail stations over the coming weeks. Throughout 2022, fast chargers will be added next to traditional fuel pumps at Shell-branded stations in several of the country's largest cities.
When the Minister for Transport, Benny Engelbrecht, today officially opens the first fast charger for EVs at the Shell station on Lyngbyvej in Copenhagen, it also marks the start of a large investment in the growing EV market for DCC Energi. Through its new eMobility business, the energy company, which operates the 240 Shell-branded retail stations in Denmark, will launch a complete package of solutions for Danish EV drivers in the coming months.
The first step is DCC Energi’s opening of fast chargers (300 kWh) at five Copenhagen Shell-branded stations. This will be followed by the launch of charging solutions for both private homes and businesses, as well as new payment solutions and roaming agreements that will improve the charging options for the country's EV owners. Through collaboration with Shell, DCC customers will in future also gain roaming access to over 300,000 charging points across Europe.
“We have more than 100 years of experience in helping Danish drivers and businesses get from A to B. We want to build on this capability in a period where EVs are becoming more and more widespread. That is what we are now embarking on. Right now, the biggest challenge for electric car drivers is a lack of charging infrastructure to match increasing EV sales. With our network of retail stations, we have unique infrastructure for the mobility of the future. This investment, in combination with home and workplace charging solutions, will make it as trouble free to drive electric as it is driving a petrol or diesel car,”
says Christian Heise, CEO of DCC Energi.
Easy payment and new roaming options
The basis of DCC Energi's eMobility concept is that EV drivers must be able to pay for high-speed charging using the same types of payment methods that they use for traditional fuels today. And the price for "refueling" an EV must be transparent. As an example, the price sign facing the road at Copenhagen Shell retail stations now offering fast charging will show the daily price of one kWh alongside the price of traditional fuels.
“Currently there are an estimated 140,000 hybrid and EVs in Denmark which, in the next five to seven years, is set to increase to c. 700,000. It is crucial that consumers have easy access to the entire charging infrastructure through our payment solution. We aim to facilitate everything for the car in a single payment card, whether it is petrol, diesel, electricity, car wash or coffee,” explains Christian Heise.
As a start, business customers and company car drivers with a EuroShell Card/Shell Card Erhverv will have the opportunity to get a new fuel/electricity hybrid card. The card can also be used for payment at other EV charging stations. During 2022, the regular Shell Card Private will also include the same option for payment at other charging stations. This applies to payment at EV charging stations in Denmark and abroad.
The first five fast chargers at Shell stations in Copenhagen are located on Lyngbyvej, in Brøndby, Brønshøj, Kastrup, and Vasbygade. According to Christian Heise, the plan for the further expansion of the network of fast chargers is ready with a focus on Aarhus, Odense, and Aalborg. DCC Energi will add selected Shell stations along key traffic hubs and stations located close to larger tourist destinations - thus meeting the demand from an increasing number of visitors driving EVs.