Shell has signed an agreement to buy 100% of Ubitricity, the specialist provider of on-street charging for EVs.
Founded in Berlin, Ubitricity operates in several European countries, and has an EV charging network in the UK of more than 2,700 charge points.
Ubitricity works with local authorities to integrate EV charging into existing street infrastructure such as lamp posts and bollards, particularly useful for people who lack a private driveway but want to charge their vehicle overnight.
Once the deal is completed – expected to be later this year and subject to regulatory clearance – Ubitricity is expected to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell.
István Kapitány, executive vice president of Shell Global Mobility, said, “Working with local authorities, we want to support the growing number of Shell customers who want to switch to an EV by making it as convenient as possible for them.
“On-street options such as the lamp post charging offered by Ubitricity will be key for those who live and work in cities or have limited access to off-street parking. Whether at home, at work or on-the-go, we want to provide our customers with accessible and affordable EV charging options so they can charge up no matter where they are.”
Lex Hartman, Ubitricity’s CEO, added, “What excites so many people about Ubitricity is that our integration of EV charge points into existing on-street infrastructure makes EV charging easy and accessible for everyone who needs it, where they need it.
“Particularly in larger cities where there is limited access to off-street parking, this is the solution many people have been waiting for to allow them to transition to EV ownership.
“Combining this piece of the puzzle with Shell’s existing range of EV charging solutions gives EV drivers access to a full range of charging options, making Shell and Ubitricity a perfect match.”
