Raízen ties up with BYD targeting Brazil EV growth

Raízen has forged a strategic partnership with Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, seeking to spur sustainable transportation growth in Brazil through renewable energy supply and charging infrastructure rollouts supporting anticipated sales expansion.

Under the agreement, Raízen subsidiary Raízen Power will construct BYD-branded direct current fast charging hubs powered by 100% clean energy in eight key cities over three years, adding 18 megawatts of capacity. Locations include Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Belém.

The accord also entails competitive power arrangements for dealers and preferential charging rates for BYD owners as the partners collaborate across the EV consumer journey. Raízen, an established fuel retailer and electricity generator, aims to capture a 25% domestic EV charging market share under its Shell Recharge brand.

“We want to make electric mobility solutions more accessible and accelerate decarbonised futures,” said Raizen CEO Ricardo Mussa, citing the alliance’s importance for customer convenience and affordability.

BYD seeks to leverage Raizen’s retail footprint and renewable generation portfolio to enable its sales plan for competitively priced battery electric cars and buses tailored to Latin America. The partners have also explored co-development around charging equipment and energy storage applications.

Shell holds a licensing partnership with Raízen encompassing 7,500 existing mobility sites in Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. In China and Europe, Shell and BYD have jointly invested in EV charging hubs and associated retail offerings including the Shenzhen Airport facility, Shell’s largest such hub globally.