There is no reason why they would have done this. Plenty of opportunity to create their own slow charging network. They were about to set up a way to pay for the energy, but instead chose to shut it down. In Chicago we’re in seriously need for more charging options. Is anyone interested in discussing how to create a new network, or to push to have these old Volta stations turned back on?
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I saw a ton of chargers get installed at a local park, all this infrastructure upgrading to support them all, even saw them switch the branding from Volta to Shell, and most of them seemed fully set up, some were just missing the cord, but none were ever turned on. Probably 20 of them in total. Now I see that they’ll never get set up…
Though to be honest, I had a Volta account, but when shell bought them, they sent me non-stop reminders that Volta doesn’t exist and I needed to make a Shell app to even use their free chargers, but I never saw the use in doing so. I used Volta so rarely anyways. It was just nice when I went to the mall.
Yea exactly that, your experience is that of late stage capitalism which fucks us. There was a clear opportunity for Shell to create a decent slow charging network, but they instead stopped it and now no one can use it. Now personally I’m limited to Electrify America (owned by Volkswagen), and Tesla superchargers which only one of it compatible far away. Meanwhile in other countries like in Europe and in China they are putting chargers everywhere.
“[INSERT COMPANY] is an evil corporation” is a needless truism. All corporations are evil by definition.
but some are more evil than others.
I don’t think Aldi or Costco are evil corporations. If we just say “All corporations are evil” then it allows the truly evil shit to slip by. Like yea, I get the “Oh there are some good ones” argument is stupid. But I think it’s important to at least pinpoint and expose the specific decisions that are made which are truly evil.
Could’ve sold them to someone. But no, like the EV1 they must be dismantled and destroyed.
These were likely paid for with government stimulus money. If We had a different administration in power, they might have something to say about that (like clawing back a refund).
I think what we need is to get people together and work towards creating a new network using the cheapest most advanced available technology. Don’t worry so much about fast charging because it’s expensive, just strategically placed micro slow charging in parking lots of grocery stores. Make a deal where you split the profits or something.
There is no reason why they would have done this.
Money is a reason. Electricity can’t compete with oil on profit margins and (perhaps more importantly) market size.
Indeed, they shut them down because they want to stifle competition. My sentence was badly worded, rather “no good reason”.
So taxpayer dollars funded these ffucks to the tube of 15 million (give or take a milly) to technology that Shell is now dismantling. ~190 employees lose their jobs. Thousands of retail charging locations disappear. Classic enshittification via acquisition. microsoft python flexing, embrace ,extend ,extinguish
bloody oil
Shell already runs an EV charging network called Shell Recharge. Sounds like they are consolidating.
Shell recharge is Volta. They bought it and rebranded them. Now they’re dismantling all the level 2 side of the network (IE all the Volta chargers) and only keeping the DCFC side.
