Shell To Close 1000 Gas Stations In Texas. Heres What We Know.

Once upon a time, Shell, the mighty oil and gas titan, helped Houston become the "Energy Capital of the World." But guess what? They've decided to change the game and shake things up a bit. In their latest "Energy Transition Strategy 2024" comic book (okay, it's actually a report, but imagine it with cool illustrations), they spilled the beans about their new master plan. They're saying goodbye to about 1,000 gas stations over the next two years. Yep, you heard that right. It's like they're on a massive spring cleaning spree, but instead of getting rid of old toys, they're ditching gas stations!

Here's the scoop: Shell's got this wild idea to transform into the superheroes of electric vehicles (EVs). According to a story told by journalist Suvrat Kothari on InsideEVs, Shell is all geared up to pump resources into expanding services for these silent, sneaky electric cars. They're planning to pimp out their retail network with all sorts of gadgets and gizmos for EVs, including super-fast charging stations and, get this, snack bars where you can grab a coffee or a snack while your car gulps down some electrons.

But wait, there's more! They're not just stopping at a few upgrades. Shell wants to become the ultimate pit stop for EVs by quadrupling their number of public charging stations to a whopping 200,000 by 2030. Imagine that – it's like planning to build enough lemonade stands to serve the entire galaxy!

And where are they focusing their electric dreams? In the lands far, far away (well, not that far) – China and Europe. These places are hotspots for EVs, kind of like how certain spots in your schoolyard are popular for the coolest new games. Shell even teamed up with BYD, a bigwig car maker in China, to open their largest EV charging station in Shenzhen, China. It's like the Disneyland for electric cars!

Now, for the plot twist: it's a bit of a mystery which of Shell's stations will vanish into thin air, especially in Houston, where oil and gas have been ruling the playground. But the winds of change are blowing, and there's a buzz about going electric. Imagine swapping your gas-guzzling dragon for a silent, electric unicorn. Sounds pretty cool, right?

In this grand adventure, Shell is on a mission to slash the carbon emissions from their customers' dragon rides by 25-30% by 2030. It's a quest to turn the dark, smoggy skies into clear, blue canvases. And with Texas potentially saving a treasure chest worth $864 million by switching to electric fleets, it's like finding a hidden gem in your backyard. So buckle up, because Shell's journey from oil giants to electric vehicle champions is going to be one electrifying ride!