Shell mulls over eliminating nightly mobile data fees
Shell and Other Energy Providers Consider Overnight Fee Changes for Roaming EV Charging Stations
Energy giant Shell, along with other providers, is exploring potential changes to the overnight fees at roaming EV charging stations. The proposed changes aim to improve the convenience of using these stations for electric vehicle (EV) owners.
Currently, some third-party charging station operators charge higher blocking fees, which are borne by Shell. These fees are 10 cents per minute after four hours, capped at 12 euros at Shell roaming charging stations. These fees can be a deterrent for EV owners, as they may have to move their cars at night to avoid additional charges.
Shell has already waived these fees at its own charging stations. The potential removal of these fees at roaming stations could encourage more EV owners to use these stations, as they would not have to worry about moving their cars at night.
Shell is contemplating the removal of these fees, but no clear public information on handling overnight blocking fees at roaming stations is disclosed in current sources.
In addition to addressing overnight fees, Shell and other providers are focusing on price flexibility and network integration to improve EV charging. They are testing dynamic pricing based on electricity market prices, although roaming prices remain fixed. Roaming integration is also a priority, with providers like Shell integrating with apps for unified payment and charging experiences.
However, the specifics of overnight blocking fee policies remain unspecified in available sources. The potential introduction of a "Free Night Shift" by Shell could be a new industry trend in the EV charging market, but cooperation from roaming partners or third-party charging station operators would be required.
Meanwhile, EnBW, another energy provider, emphasizes the importance of free charging points but also wants to prevent charging points from being used as parking spaces after a charging process has ended. EnBW currently incurs overnight blocking fees if an EV continues to occupy a charging point after the charging process has ended at roaming charging stations. EnBW has no plans to change its practice regarding overnight blocking fees at its charging stations.
In summary, while Shell and other providers focus on price flexibility and network integration to improve EV charging, detailed policies concerning overnight blocking fees at roaming charging stations are not explicitly disclosed in available sources. Further direct inquiry with providers or updated operational documents would be required for specifics on blocking fees overnight.
In the context of improving the convenience of using roaming EV charging stations, Shell, along with other providers, are discussing possible amendments to overnight fees, aiming to eliminate the deterrent for EV owners due to high blocking fees. Furthermore, Shell's potential introduction of a "Free Night Shift" could potentially set a trend in the energy and technology-driven EV charging industry, but the specifics of such a policy remain undisclosed for roaming charging stations.
