Overview of the New Policy
For Shell Recharge users, you most likely would have received an email from Shell Recharge updating you on their new policy to manage queues at 3 of their charging sites. But for the rest, here is the overview of the new policy.
Shell Recharge is conducting a pricing trial for 3 of their charging sites, Shell Seletar Hills, Shell Macpherson and Shell Ang Mo Kio service stations from the 22 August 2024 10am till 23 September 2024 10am. The purpose of this pricing trial is to limit charging to an hour in order to increase the availability of the charger for the next user. So after 60 minutes of charging, there will be an additional fee of $0.30 per minute (capped at $25) on top of the standard per kWh rates.
For example:
If you are charging for ≤ 60 mins: Standard per kWh charging rates apply
If you are charging for > 60 mins: Standard per kWh charging rates apply + $0.30 additional fee per minute
If you are charging for 150 mins: Standard per kWh charging rates apply + $25
It takes 83.33 minutes or 1 hour 23.33 minutes of additional charging to hit the $25 cap.
But why only 60 minutes?
Shell explains that experts recommend unplugging EVs at 80% state-of-charge to maintain battery health and majority of EVs are able to reach that within 60 minutes (using DC charging). The charging rate from 80% – 100% will decrease significantly as well.
Additionally with the rise of EVs on the roads, more charging stations are required to accommodate these drivers and such a policy can help prevent hogging of charging stations.
What do you think of Shell’s pricing trial? Leave us your comments and opinions in the comment section below.