BYD, the global leader in electric vehicle sales, and Raízen Power, the renewable electricity arm of Raízen, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating sustainable electric mobility in Brazil. The collaboration between these two industry giants encompasses a range of initiatives, with a primary focus on the establishment of electric vehicle (EV) charging hubs across eight major Brazilian cities over the next three years. The partnership was unveiled at a ceremony held in Shenzhen, China, attended by key representatives from BYD, Raízen Power, and Shell.
The objective of this collaboration is to significantly expand the public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in Brazil’s major urban centers. These charging hubs, operating under the Shell Recharge brand, will offer 100% clean and renewable energy, providing users with a state-of-the-art recharging experience. The rollout will commence in 2024, with hubs set to be constructed in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Salvador, and Belém. In total, 600 new DC charge points will be installed, contributing an additional 18 MW of power to the national grid for EV recharging purposes.
Moreover, as part of the partnership, BYD drivers utilizing the Shell Recharge network will have access to competitive energy rates and services. Additionally, there will be a collaboration with Tupinambá, a platform dedicated to enhancing the digital experience for electric vehicle users.
Raízen Power, leveraging its position as one of Brazil’s major electricity providers, aims to lead the country’s electromobility market, targeting a market share of approximately 25%. Furthermore, the brand aims to capture a 10% share in the free energy market while advancing its distributed generation projects, thereby offering clean energy solutions to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers.
Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We want to democratize access to electric mobility and renewable energy, making these solutions more accessible, affordable, and attractive to the market. With the partnership between Raízen Power and BYD, we will be closer to our customers and participate in the entire consumer journey with the Shell Recharge network, through a complete and integrated portfolio that addresses the global pursuit of a more sustainable future.”
Raízen, a licensee of the Shell brand, operates a vast network of nearly eight thousand mobility sites across Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, catering to millions of consumers daily.
For BYD, this partnership holds strategic significance for the development and deployment of its charging equipment and battery solutions. In addition to enhancing convenience for consumers, BYD drivers will also enjoy discounts at the charging hubs in the eight cities.
Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas commented, “We believe it is crucial to have a robust and widely distributed charging infrastructure. As we embark on our ambitious sales expansion plan, investing in charging infrastructure is essential. This not only ensures convenience for our customers but also accelerates the transition to a sustainable and electrified future, driving the growth of clean energy transportation.”
István Kapitány, Shell’s Global Executive Vice President for Mobility, highlighted the importance of industry collaboration in driving forward the electric mobility transition. Kapitány stated, “No single company can drive forward the electric mobility transition alone; instead, it will require unprecedented collaboration between industry, government, and customers. This latest venture is a great example of how we are achieving that with the help of our ongoing partners, Raízen and BYD. Our relationship with BYD, for example, started in China and Europe and together we are now looking forward to playing our part in the growth of EV adoption in Brazil, making charging EVs as convenient, and enjoyable as possible.”
Shell, with one of the largest EV charging networks globally, is committed to expanding its infrastructure to support the growth of electric vehicle adoption. The company aims to have approximately 70,000 public charge points by 2025, with ongoing efforts to make charging EVs as convenient and enjoyable as possible.
The partnership between BYD, Raízen Power, and Shell represents a significant step forward in advancing sustainable electric mobility in Brazil, promising a brighter and cleaner future for transportation in the region.
