Raízen Power, Raízen’s brand dedicated to renewable electricity solutions, and Chinese biggest EV maker BYD are joining forces to accelerate sustainable electric mobility in Brazil.
The agreement between the two companies includes several initiatives, such as the construction of EV charging hubs under Shell’s public EV charging brand – Shell Recharge – in eight Brazilian capitals over the next three years. The hubs will be built starting in 2024 in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Salvador and Belém. The partnership was announced at an event in Shenzhen, China, attended by Raízen Power, BYD and Shell leaders.
The goal of the partnership is to significantly expand the public network of electric chargers in the main Brazilian capitals, offering 100% clean and renewable energy and providing a high-tech recharging experience for users. In total, around 600 new DC charge points will be installed, adding an additional 18 MW of installed power to recharge electric vehicles nationwide. The partnership will include the offering of competitive energy and services to BYD drivers on the Shell Recharge network. Additionally, the partnership considers a collaboration with Tupinambá, a platform focused on generating the best digital experience for electric vehicles users.
Through the Shell Recharge brand, Raízen Power, one of the largest electricity players in Brazil, wants to lead the Brazilian electromobility market, reaching approximately 25% market share in the segment. Additionally, the brand intends to reach a 10% market share in the free energy market and advance its distributed generation projects—two clean energy commercialization solutions that provide savings to residential, commercial and large business consumers.
“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 Shell Recharge network, through a complete and integrated portfolio that addresses the global pursuit of a more sustainable future,” said Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen.
Raízen is a licensee of the Shell brand and has a network of almost eight thousand mobility sites across Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, serving millions of consumers daily on their journeys.
This partnership is also strategic for the development and implementation of BYD’s charging equipment and battery solutions. BYD consumers will also enjoy discounts when recharging at hubs located in the 8 cities.
“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”, commented Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas.
This latest venture in Brazil builds on a strategic cooperation agreement signed by Shell and BYD in 2022 to help accelerate the energy transition and improve charging experience for BYD’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) customers.
Shell has already one of the largest EV charging networks globally in terms of country reach, with around 55,000 public charge points across more than 30 markets and expects to have approximately 70,000 public charge points by 2025. In September 2023, Shenzhen Shell and BYD Electric Vehicle Investment Company Limited – a joint venture between Shell and BYD – opened Shell’s largest EV charging station globally, located near Shenzhen Airport, in China, with 258 fast chargers. Currently, this Shell-branded site serves more than 3,300 EVs customers every day with six convenience offers including a lounge, Shell Café and Shell Select.
