Shell’s Latest Greenwashing Circus: EV Charging Chaos Wrapped in Corporate Greed

Posted by John Donovan: 3rd Jan 2025

Oh, Shell. The planet’s favourite oil-slicked villain has once again shown us just how committed it is to “cleaner mobility” (wink wink). In a move that’s equal parts farcical and revealing, Shell Recharge Solutions is throwing its charging business into a blender—shutting down software services, offloading responsibilities, and pretending it’s all part of some grand strategy for a greener future. What’s really happening? Let’s dive into the shameless absurdity

Shell Sky Is Falling: Abandoning Third-Party Chargers

First up, Shell is pulling the plug on Shell Sky, its cloud-based software for managing third-party EV charging stations. As of April 30th, the service will vanish into the corporate abyss, leaving customers scrambling to find new solutions. This software, originally developed by Greenlots (a company Shell devoured in 2019), was supposed to help third-party providers manage charging stations seamlessly. But now, Shell has decided that supporting other people’s infrastructure just isn’t profitable enough.

And what does Shell have to say to the soon-to-be-abandoned customers? Don’t worry, they’re happy to recommend alternative software providers! How generous. “Shell has MOUs with three CPMS providers and would be happy to make introductions,” they said in an email, cited by Electrek. Translation: “Good luck; you’re on your own.”

But hey, at least Shell was thoughtful enough to give 90 days’ notice before killing off the service, right? Shaun Stewart, president of ChargeLab, graciously “applauded” this decision while gently pointing out that it’s still a ridiculously short window for migration. Because when Shell prioritizes its “competitive advantage,” inconvenience is just collateral damage.

0five Takes the Wheel: Offloading Home and Workplace Chargers

As if abandoning Shell Sky weren’t enough, Shell is also handing over its home and workplace charging business to Dutch company 50five in six major European markets, including Germany, France, and the UK. That’s right: the charging points Shell proudly touted as part of its big green push are now someone else’s problem. Why? Because Shell would rather focus on “better public charging experiences” and, of course, its bottom line.

The best part? Shell employees involved in this business are being dumped—sorry, transferred—to 50five as part of the deal. According to Xifeng Wu, Shell’s Senior VP of Mobility Network and E-Mobility, this reorganization is part of their commitment to e-mobility as a “crucial growth area.” Wu insists that Shell is still dedicated to cleaner mobility, with plans to expand its public charging network beyond its current 70,000 stations worldwide.

Ah yes, nothing screams commitment to sustainability like abandoning private charging solutions for customers and focusing on highly profitable public infrastructure. Because let’s be honest: Shell isn’t in this for the planet. They’re in it for the money. It’s not about enabling cleaner mobility—it’s about enabling Shell to cling to relevance as the world shifts away from fossil fuels.

From NewMotion to No Motion

Remember when Shell acquired NewMotion in 2017, followed by Greenlots in 2019, and rebranded them under the Shell Recharge banner in 2022? Back then, they made grand promises about “enabling cleaner mobility at home, at work, and on the move.” Fast forward to 2025, and those promises are evaporating faster than ice caps in a warming Arctic.

Instead of fulfilling its green pledges, Shell is gutting the very initiatives it used to bolster its eco-friendly image. But hey, as long as their marketing materials look good, who cares if they’re actually delivering on their promises? Certainly not BlackRock and Vanguard, two of Shell’s largest investors, who are likely more interested in their dividends than whether Shell’s EV dreams amount to anything more than greenwashing.

A Sprint for Profits, Not Progress

Shell’s actions make it clear that it’s sprinting—just not toward sustainability. Whether it’s shutting down Shell Sky, outsourcing home chargers to 50five, or narrowing its focus to public charging networks, every move is about consolidating profits and cutting costs. And let’s not forget the backdrop of Shell’s broader strategy, which includes threatening to move its London listing to New York if the City doesn’t worship them enough.

The company’s so-called “competitive advantage” has nothing to do with advancing cleaner energy. It’s about staying just green enough to keep investors like BlackRock happy while continuing to rake in cash from fossil fuels. Shell’s public EV network might grow, but don’t be fooled—it’s just another way for them to extract profits while pretending to care about the climate.

What the Actual F*ck, Shell?

So here we are: Shell wants us to believe it’s leading the charge into a greener future, but every move it makes screams, “How can we milk this for cash?” Whether it’s abandoning third-party EV software, offloading responsibilities to 50five, or doubling down on public infrastructure, Shell’s strategy is all about profit over progress.

Meanwhile, its biggest investors are happily looking the other way, counting their returns as Shell cuts corners and shuffles its responsibilities like a bad gambler at the greenwashing table. The world deserves better, but Shell isn’t interested in being better—they’re just interested in being rich. Shocker.

Shell’s latest antics are just another reminder that when it comes to corporate responsibility, the bar is in the basement—and Shell is digging a hole

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