It is a strange turnaround. Ten years ago, they were regarded as comically mismanaged.

But I think what happened was: top tier firms like XOM did well, the market started softening in the mid-2010s, the top tier were more exposed to that, Shell had already botched it so they couldn't really get any worse, they were therefore in a fairly good place to latch onto new trends because they weren't fire-fighting.

Tbf, their returns haven't been much different to XOM except over the last year. I don't really invest in natural resources but have been considering SHEL as a diversifier (I am down very bad on everything else) because they do seem to be switched on (and are being pushed by Third Point).

Isn't Volkswagen's Electrify America far ahead of any other network? They have the only fast DC charger in my town. Since I'm contemplating a Hyundai Ioniq 5 it seems like the only suitable service.

US of course

It isn't just about having the network. Realistically, very few people would sign up just to use a single network or Charging Point Operator (CPO) is they're known in the industry. They then sign up to EMSP (eletric mobility service providers) and the EMSP have contracts and connections to a bunch of networks. Then there are hubs, the CPOs depending on their size can't handle all the work that comes with being connected to all the EMSPs.

Shell as far as I can tell own a major EMSP and building their own network.