Electric vehicle (EV) charging is getting better, but let me tell you about a recent experience that had me pulling my hair out.
I was on a road trip, rolling along in my EV when it was time to top up the battery. I pulled into a Shell charging station, all excited to get some quick juice. But that’s where things went south.
The charging station wouldn’t let me charge! Instead, I got stuck in this nightmarish loop with the app. It was like EV Groundhog Day – no matter what I did, the app kept taking me back to the same spot, never letting me actually start the charging session.
Look, I know EV charging isn’t perfect yet, but this was beyond frustrating. Hopefully, it’s just a temporary glitch that Shell will fix soon. But until then, this story serves as a reminder that EV charging can still be a bit of an adventure.
Back in the summer of 2023, EV charging in Chicago was pretty sweet. We had this Volta network with charging stations everywhere, offering both slow and fast charging options. The best part? The slow chargers were totally free! No app downloads, no fees, nada. Just pull up, plug in, and get juiced on free electricity – all while Volta made money by selling ads on their giant charging pillars.
Then, in March 2023, everything changed. Shell bought Volta’s charging network. At the time, I figured this meant free charging would be a thing of the past, with Shell likely switching to a pay-to-play model. But hey, that’s the business world, right?
Fast forward to April 2024 and my recent road trip experience. I pull into a Shell charging station, all set to top up my battery, only to get stuck in this app nightmare. The app wouldn’t let me start the charging session, no matter what I did.
It was like being trapped in some EV Groundhog Day!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I know EV charging infrastructure is still under development, and there are bound to be bumps in the road. But this experience definitely highlights how things can go from convenient and free to frustrating and paid in the blink of an eye. Hopefully, Shell can iron out these app glitches soon. In the meantime, this serves as a cautionary tale for EV drivers: free charging might not always be free forever, and be prepared for the occasional charging adventure.
I’ve reached out to Shell for answers but haven’t heard back yet. This is concerning, especially considering Shell’s ambitious goal of becoming a net-zero emissions company by 2050. Having a massive charging network is great, but it means nothing if people can’t use it!
Shell has a history of buying up EV charging networks – Ubitricity in the UK (2021) and Greenlots (2019) are just a few examples. But reviews for these Shell Recharge stations are all over the place. Some folks have a breeze, while others (like me) get stuck in app nightmares.
There’s also the issue of the app itself. The European version is all I could find in the Google Play store on my phone – not exactly helpful! Finally found the US app online, but the reviews there are far from glowing. Apparently, having two different brand names and confusing instructions aren’t uncommon.
Look, I’m not the only one who’s been frustrated by Shell’s charging network. This app mess is a problem Shell needs to fix if they’re serious about building a reliable EV charging network. We all know EVs are the future, but right now, this experience makes that future seem a little bumpy.
