BYD to Establish 600 Direct Current Charging Stations in Brazil

Leading Chinese automaker BYD is poised to establish 600 direct current charging stations in Brazil, as per an announcement made on February 2nd. This strategic partnership with Raízen Power, a brand dedicated to renewable energy solutions under the Brazilian energy company Raízen, is set to significantly enhance Brazil’s electric vehicle infrastructure.

Over the next three years, the collaboration will see the construction of 600 new charging stations across eight Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte. These stations will be operated under the globally recognized Shell brand, contributing an additional 18 MW to Brazil’s national electric vehicle charging capacity.

Raízen, established in 2010, is a joint venture between Shell and Brazilian energy group Cosan. The company, with a focus on the production and sale of sugar, ethanol, and renewable energy, has nearly 8,000 service stations across Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. Both Shell and Cosan currently hold a 44% stake in Raízen.

Under this new partnership, BYD will be responsible for supplying the charging equipment and battery solutions. BYD customers will also benefit from discounts when charging at these new stations. Stella Li, Executive Vice President and CEO of BYD Americas, emphasized the importance of a robust and extensive charging infrastructure. As BYD embarks on an ambitious sales expansion plan, such an investment becomes crucial to ensure customer convenience and to speed up the transition towards a sustainable and electrified future.

This latest initiative in Brazil builds on the global strategic agreement that BYD and Shell signed in 2022. This agreement was designed to drive the energy transition forward and enhance the charging experience for BYD electric vehicle users. Initially, the partnership will focus on China and Europe, with plans to expand globally.

In September of the previous year, Shell’s largest electric vehicle charging station worldwide was inaugurated in Shenzhen. Operated by the joint venture of BYD and Shell, Shenzhen Shell BYD Electric Vehicle Investment Co., Ltd., the station boasts 258 public fast charging terminals.

For the past four decades, Brazil has relied on ethanol fuel to mitigate emissions, with flex-fuel vehicles running on a blend of gasoline and ethanol being the norm. However, recent data suggests a shift in this trend. In 2023, Brazil saw a 91% year-on-year increase in electric vehicle sales, totaling 93,900 units, with BYD accounting for 18,000 of these.

Last year, BYD announced a significant investment in Brazil’s manufacturing sector, with plans to establish a large production base in the city of Camacari. This 3 billion reais (approximately 4.5 billion yuan) investment will see the construction of three factories dedicated to the production of electric bus and truck chassis, new energy passenger car assembly, and the processing of lithium iron phosphate battery materials. The new energy passenger car assembly line will produce both pure electric and plug-in hybrid models, with an ambitious annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles.

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