Electric Vehicle Charger Management System Transition
Project Description
Beginning in late February 2025, City Light is transitioning our electric vehicle (EV) charger management system from Shell Recharge’s software to the ChargePoint system. This change will impact all of the chargers within our public charging network, with the exception of our most recently deployed stations in Shoreline and Burien. We anticipate this transition to be completed in May.
During this transition period, chargers may not be available for use. Before visiting a charger, be sure to check its current status. Alternative charging stations can be located via apps like PlugShare.
Shell Recharge is discontinuing its Shell Sky software in third-party commercial EV chargers in the U.S. and Canada. The company says it will focus on investing in its Shell-owned public charging network.
As you visit our newly converted charging sites, we welcome feedback on your experience. You can send us an email at SCL_ElectricVehicles@seattle.gov.
What's Happening Now?
Project Update (February 2025): We have begun the pilot phase of this project, and it is expected to last one month. Phase 1 of our transition pilot will include our Adams station and our West Queen Anne station. Phase 2 of our transition pilot will include our Waterfront station and our Alaska Junction station.
Preparing for the Transition
To prepare for the switch to ChargePoint, download the app and create an account. The ChargePoint app will allow you to activate your charging session, select your preferred payment method, manage your charging session, and more. Partner charging network apps may also be used, if your preferred app is a roaming partner and allows you to select ChargePoint stations.
Schedule
Beginning in late February 2025 and we anticipate this transition to be completed in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shell Recharge is discontinuing its Shell Sky software in third-party commercial EV chargers in the US and Canada.
Shell Sky is cloud-based EV charger management software, often called a CPMS or charging station management system (CSMS). Sky was originally created by software startup Greenlots, which Shell acquired in 2019. Greenlots was eventually rebranded to Shell Recharge.
Shell Sky is hardware agnostic and uses Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), an open protocol for connecting and managing EV chargers, which means chargers using Shell Sky software can be migrated to other OCPP-compliant software providers either remotely or onsite.
Shell Recharge will service the third-party EV chargers until April 30, and after that, it will switch the software off, and it wants the Shell Recharge Solutions stickers removed from the chargers.
The company says it will focus on investing in its Shell-owned public charging network, which consists of more than 70,000 chargers globally. A company spokesperson wrote that the company is “focusing our investments where we have a competitive advantage.”
-- "Shell Recharge exits the US EV charger software market," by Michelle Lewis, Electrek, Dec. 30 2024
This change will impact all of the chargers within our public charging network, with the exception of our most recently deployed chargers in Shoreline and Burien. We anticipate this transition to be completed in May.
During this transition period, chargers may not be available for use. Before visiting a charger, be sure to check its current status. Alternative charging stations can be located via apps like PlugShare.
The transition to the ChargePoint charger management system will begin in late February and is anticipated to be completed in May 2025.
- Level 2 chargers will be offline for a few hours during their transition periods.
- DC Fast Chargers may be offline for a few days during their transition periods.
Alternative charging stations can be located via apps like PlugShare.
With the PlugShare app, drivers can filter the charger map by plug type, charging speed, charging provider, availability, and area amenities. Users can access directions to chargers, monitor and pay for charging at some locations, receive notifications when new chargers are installed nearby, or use the trip planner feature to locate stations along a particular route. The map includes information for charging networks in North America, Europe, and much of the rest of the world.
Once each charger has transitioned to the ChargePoint system, the chargers can be activated via the ChargePoint app OR a ChargePoint partner network.
To set up a ChargePoint account, download the ChargePoint app and follow the steps to create an account and select your preferred payment method. The ChargePoint app will allow you to activate your charging session, manage your session, locate stations, and more.
Partner charging network apps may also be used, if your preferred app is a roaming partner and allows you to select ChargePoint stations
Partner charging network apps may also be used, if your preferred app is a roaming partner and allows you to select ChargePoint stations.
Level 2 Chargers
- To activate a charging session, select your payment method.
- Pay by App - Download the ChargePoint app to set up an account or use a roaming partner app. Open the app and select the station on the map or search for the station by name.
- Pay by Credit Card - Call (888) 758-4389 and provide the station name and number.
- After activating, press and hold the button on the connector to extend the charging cable.
- Plug the connector into your EV. Your car will automatically start charging.
- The cable will automatically retract when unplugged.
- Please carry the connector back to the charger to prevent damage.
DC Fast Chargers
- To activate a charging session, select your payment method.
- Pay by App - Download the ChargePoint app to set up an account or use a roaming partner app. Open the app and select the station on the map or search for the station by name. Press “Start Charge” in the app. ChargePoint FAQs are available in the app, under Account then Help.
- Pay by RFID Card - Tap your ChargePoint RFID card on the RFID reader.
- Pay by Credit Card - (ONLY AVAILABLE on ChargePoint brand chargers) Tap your contactless credit card on the reader.
- Pay by Phone - (ONLY AVAILABLE on ChargePoint brand chargers) When using ChargePoint’s Tap to Charge, tap your phone on the reader.
- Plug the connector into your EV. Your car will automatically start charging.
- Press “Stop Charging” on the charger screen to end your session.
The cost to charge at a City Light EV charger depends on the charger type (Level 2 or DC fast) and time of day.
A typical charging session at a fast charger may take 30-minutes to deliver 20 kWh, and cost $4 - $7 depending upon location and time of use. 20 kWh can power approximately 60 miles of driving. The cost to charge is updated per department policy III-1102.
Fees are per kilowatt-hours (kWh).
DC Fast Chargers
Sunday
All Day - $0.22
Monday - Saturday
12 a.m. - 7 a.m. - $0.22
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. - $0.36
7 p.m. - 12 a.m - $0.22
Level 2 Chargers
Daily
All Day - $0.21
During this initial transition period, the RFID card feature will not be available on our Level 2 chargers.
If your RFID is not working on the station, try activating the station with your phone app and check your account’s (Manage Card and Payment) settings. If you are still in need of assistance, call (888) 758-4389 and provide the station name and number.
Request a ChargePoint card online or in the ChargePoint app.
After April 30, 2025, the Shell Recharge app will only support Shell owned chargers. It will no longer be compatible with our City Light charging stations.
Customers with a Shell Recharge wallet balance should automatically receive a refund after April 30.
If you are in need of assistance, call (888) 758-4389 and provide the station name and number.
Replacing chargers is not part of this project.
However, City Light is working to replace Direct Current (DC) fast chargers for electric vehicles at five locations across City Light’s service area. These new fast chargers will enhance charging speeds, increase reliability, and provide some protection against repeated incidents of vandalism and cable theft.