Shell, a name that has been long synonymous with petrol and diesel, is taking its first steps in the EV market. The fuel giant has been steadily building a global public EV charging network across 30 countries, showing that it’s serious about supporting the shift from combustion engines to cleaner alternatives. But fast, convenient charging is often the missing link when it comes to getting more people into buying into EVs, and Shell’s latest announcement is all about speeding up that experience for drivers.
At the core of Shell’s EV breakthrough is its new EV-Plus Thermal Fluid technology. Many EV owners know that charging time is as much about how quickly heat can be pulled out of the battery pack as it is about the power level coming from the charging station. High charging currents generate a lot of heat, so keeping things cool is essential for both safety and battery health. That’s where Shell’s proprietary thermal fluid comes in. Based on the company’s Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) Technology, this non-conductive fluid is designed to flow into all the tiny spaces in a battery pack, making direct contact with each cell. This helps move heat away from the cells quickly and evenly, preventing hotspots that can shorten battery life.
In their demonstrations, it was observed that battery packs equipped with Shell’s thermal fluid could go from 10% to 80% charge in less than 10 minutes, specifically with a 34kWh battery pack. Reassuringly, this charging speed is on par with some of the latest offerings out of China, such as Zeekr’s 7X model, which has made headlines for reaching similar ultra-fast charging times. Shell says its system can deliver about 15 miles of driving range per minute of charge. The company also claims that their fluid significantly reduces thermal stresses, making high-speed charging possible without damaging the battery’s integrity or shortening its expected lifespan.
What makes this breakthrough, truly interesting for the average driver is the potential for more compact and affordable battery designs. If batteries can charge so quickly without degrading, automakers could opt for smaller packs, which would help bring down costs and use fewer resources. And for those who use charging stations regularly, the promise of a full charge in less time than it takes to grab a coffee could make switching to electric a lot more appealing.
For now, Shell hasn’t disclosed the exact power levels needed to reach such charging rates or released independent, long-term test data on how this kind of fast charging will affect battery health over years of use. As the industry has seen with other rapid charging solutions, long-term battery performance remains a key concern for both drivers and manufacturers.
