Shell may be synonymous with oil and gas, but it’s still hoping to lead the way with electric cars. The company has previewed a Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car that it hopes will set new standards for EV charging, efficiency, and climate-friendliness.
The compact SUV is intended to meet the three goals of its namesake Triple 10 Challenge. It should charge from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes, achieve efficiency of 10km (6.2 miles) per kilowatt-hour, and offer a lifetime CO2 impact of 10 metric tons (about 9.8 imperial tons).
The fast charging will come by immersing the battery cells in non-conductive cooling fluid that’s better at distributing heat, improving both sustained charging speeds and overall efficiency. That, in turn, lets Shell use a lower-capacity battery to save weight without compromising on range.
Mobility VP Cara Tredget tells Auto Express that the company is aiming for a weight under 1,000 kg (about 2,204 lbs.), making it far lighter than the 3,500 lbs. to 5,000 lbs. you typically see for smaller EVs.
Will Shell sell its EV concept?
Don’t expect a production model
Shell will fully reveal the Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car in June, and has already shared a sketch (shown here). This will be a fully drivable EV. It won’t be a clay model or a demo-only design.
However, Shell has already noted that it won’t make a production version. As Tredget explains, the concept exists to show what can be done with technologies that are “available and scalable now,” rather than relying on exotic or unrealized breakthroughs.
Companies like Tesla and Mercedes are already using immersion cooling in vehicles like the Semi truck and AMG GT 63 S E-Performance hybrid. Chinese manufacturers like BYD have already designed batteries that can charge in as little as five minutes, and solid-state batteries also promise to cut charging times even as they reduce weight. However, those technologies are either in limited use or are still on the horizon.
The Shell concept car theoretically encourages automakers to think differently, lowering EV costs and spurring adoption.
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Why does Shell care about EVs?
It’s good for business in the long run
It may seem odd for Shell to devote attention to EVs. Its revenues are still heavily dependent on oil. $31.6 billion of its $56.1 billion in 2025 adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) came from the combination of oil extraction and chemical production.
However, Shell also has growing businesses in charging, EV lubricants, and renewable electricity. The energy giant knows that electric cars and zero-emissions power are gathering momentum despite some rough markets, with certain countries and regions expecting to phase out combustion engine car sales as soon as 2035. The Triple 10 Challenge Concept Car could help boost sales across these categories and ensure that Shell is ready when oil is less vital.
The right concept at the right time
Shell also has incentives to promote EVs even if its oil business fares well. Its revenues have been highly volatile as the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Iran, and other issues have led to large oil price changes. Electric cars and their infrastructure could provide a relatively stable income source.
Source: Auto Express.
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