Electric car stations open

OIL firm Shell is opening its first electric car charging points in the UK to keep pace with the global shift away from fossil fuels.

Today, the Anglo-Dutch company will unveil points at its petrol stations in London, Surrey and Derby. A further seven will open in London and Reading by the end of the year.

Shell is trying to adapt to the growing electrification of vehicles which is expected to hit demand for oil. Last week it also bought New Motion, one of Europe’s largest electric vehicle charging providers, and it also recently opened a new hydrogen refuelling station in London.

Charging points will be able to charge 80pc of a vehicle’s battery in about 30 minutes.

The company will charge customers 25p per kilowatt hour until the end of next June as an introductory offer.