Shell opens first ‘all-electric fuel station’ in heart of Brussels

In Etterbeek, near the Shuman traffic circle, the first all-electric fuel station on Brussels territory has opened. Shell’s public charging station has both fast chargers (DC) and regular chargers (AC).

It is a break in trend for Brussels, as with the announced era of the electric car and the reduced support for fossil energy exploitation – Brussels is banning diesel engines from 2030 and gasoline engines from 2035 – it seems that the typical gas station as we know it will also gradually disappear from the streetscape in the capital.

Eight charging points

A standard charge at the charging station on Avenue d’Auderghem in Etterbeek takes about half an hour and costs 0,56 euros/kWh. For those who like it faster, there is also the option to charge for about ten minutes at a rate of 0,69 euros/kWh.

All charging sessions do include a transaction cost of 0,35 euros. Work on the charging station is not yet complete. Two of the eight charging points are not yet functioning, and the store is not yet open.

By comparison: for public charging stations installed by the Region, you pay 0,37 euros/kWh, 25-50% cheaper than charging at home.

Q8 demand refused

Brussels already has 2 908 public charging stations. For a complete overview of all electric charging points in the Brussels Region, you can visit the website electrify.brussels. These were installed by the regional government and private partners, such as Shell – the company previously did so in London and Paris, among others.

Q8 also recently applied to convert one of its Brussels gas stations into an EV-only refueling station, but that application was refused. It concerned the gas station located at Boulevard de Waterloo/Waterloolaan and Toison d’Or/Gulden Vlies – between Louise and Namur Gate.

Q8 had applied for a renewal of its urban planning and environmental permit, with plans for a complete site renovation, including fast chargers for EVs. Still, the application was rejected, and the gas station closed its door permanently on March 19.

Not only were there complaints from residents against the operation of the gas station, but the Brussels Region also wanted to give a new look to Boulevard de Waterloo/Waterloolaan and Toison d’Or/Gulden Vlies. It is going to reconstruct the avenues and reorganize traffic there. Brussels-Environment said the gas station was also an “accident-prone” crossing between cars, pedestrians, and bicycles.

Total Energies leader in Brussels

The Brussels Region wants 22 000 charging points to be available on its territory by 2035. The goal for 2024: every Brussels household will have access to a charging station less than 150 meters from their door.

The charging points in the Brussels Region are owned by several players, although the number of charging station operators is steadily increasing. Based on figures from November 2022, Total Energies had 509 public charging points in the Brussels Region, Blue Corner 58, Allego 56, Mobility Plus 29, EV-Point 14, EV Box 4, and DATS 2.

In Belgium, Shell will install 105 fast chargers with up to 124 kW capacity at 85 Gamma do-it-yourself stores.

31% increase in electricity demand expected

At the beginning of January 2022, 20 923 EVs were registered in the Brussels Capital Region, or 4% of the vehicle fleet. The majority of EVs are currently registered in the name of a company.

47% of Brussels households (245 936) own one or more cars (private or company cars). On this basis, it is estimated that 69% of households with one or more cars, and private and company cars together amount to 351 395 cars, need publicly accessible charging infrastructure, or 38% of all Brussels households.

The rollout of charging points in the Brussels Region also considers the number of cabs, shared cars, vans, and cars of commuters and visitors. However, this last category of EV drivers largely charges overnight outside the Brussels Region.

The Brussels Region’s total energy demand in 2019 was 18 891 GWh. Transportation accounted for 21% of this, or 4 000 GWh. Electricity demand amounted to 5 221 GWh.

It is anticipated that in 2035 this electricity demand will increase by 1 650 Gwh due to the electrification of transportation. This is a 31% increase in electricity demand due to the electrification of the vehicle fleet.