Text and photos by Randy Peregrino
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp is serious about its drive toward decarbonizing mobility. One of the country’s leading petroleum companies recently introduced two sustainability initiatives for local motorists. First was the launch of the pioneer Nature-based Solutions (NBS) Carbon Offset Service for drivers, followed by Shell Recharge, the company’s first high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging service in the country. Notably, the EV charging station is the first of its kind installed on Philippine expressways.
According to Pilipinas Shell, both initiatives emphasize the company’s drive toward decarbonizing mobility by helping customers avoid, reduce, and compensate for carbon emissions, as well as its transformation toward becoming the mobility destination of choice for motorists. “Shell is rapidly becoming the Philippines’ leading mobility company, and this launch is a testament to the range of its offer to motorists,” said Istvan Kapitany, global executive vice president for Shell Mobility.
“The NBS Carbon Offset Service and Shell’s first EV charging station in the country are among the initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and to cater to a growing number of customers whose needs are changing fast. We are making sure that Shell sites will become the go-to place for all customers, whether they drive traditional or EV, thanks to an integrated offer of fuel, EV, and convenience retail. They will be mobility destinations for everyone,” Kapitany added.
It was in 2020 when Pilipinas Shell became the first energy company in the Philippines to offer the NBS Carbon Offset Service to its B2B fleet customers. Today, with its retailers, the petroleum company will practice compensating for carbon emissions feasible for everyday consumers.
Pilipinas Shell country head Lorelie Quiambao-Osial pointed out that by being the first Shell market in Asia to offer this particular service to everyday customers, Pilipinas Shell underscores its commitment to continue powering progress to achieve a more sustainable future. “These two new low-emission energy solutions encapsulate what Pilipinas Shell means when we say sustainability. It’s about providing energy in a responsible manner to our consumers so that we can minimize the impact we make on the environment while achieving a lower-carbon future,” she added.
The NBS Carbon Offset Service invites B2B Fleet customers and everyday drivers to go carbon neutral. Customers can opt to compensate for the equivalent carbon emissions from their fuel purchase for an additional service fee per liter. The total number of liters purchased with carbon offsets by customers are then assigned the equivalent carbon credits from Shell’s independently verified global portfolio of Shell NBS afforestation, reforestation, and conservation projects. These carbon credits are then retired by Shell on behalf of the customer.
Meanwhile, Pilipinas Shell and its retailers are taking the lead in the energy transition in response to the growing demand for EVs. Also unveiled during the recent event was the company’s newly installed and first EV charging facility at the Shell Mamplasan site. As the first Shell-branded charger, it will make charging an EV more convenient and accessible to users, considering the company’s claim that it is currently the most powerful DC high-performance fast charger located along South Luzon Expressway.
Simultaneous charging is possible thanks to the two EV charging points with CCS2 connectors. According to Shell, producing a 180-kWh current, an average EV can recharge to optimal battery charge levels in 30 minutes. Of course, this varies per vehicle type and according to the EV’s battery management systems. According to Shell, the charging cost is P65 per minute. Considering that 30 minutes of charging is all it takes to attain an optimal EV battery charge level, EV owners are looking at P1,950 as a theoretical cost.
The launch of Shell Recharge and Shell NBS Carbon Offset Service is part of Pilipinas Shell’s steps to meet its goal of lowering its carbon footprint. Shell considers these new offerings as services to Filipino motorists and as Shell’s way to join every EV user’s and customer’s carbon offsetting journey.
For now, Shell Recharge is available in Shell Mamplasan and will gradually roll out to more Shell Mobility stations within the next 12 months. As for the Shell NBS Carbon Offset Service, it is now available in 15 sites, including Shell Mamplasan, with a target of 100 more by the end of the year.