Shell Unveils Shenzhen’s Largest-Ever Electric Vehicle Charging Hub, Catering to 3,300+ EVs Daily

Shell, in collaboration with BYD, has launched an expansive electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in China, marking a significant step in the company’s shift towards sustainable mobility. This remarkable EV charging facility, now operational just 2.5 kilometers from Shenzhen Airport, boasts an impressive total of 258 publicly accessible fast-charging terminals.

Distinguished as Shell’s largest EV charging station worldwide, it is primed to accommodate over 3,300 EVs daily during its initial trial phase. The operation is managed through a partnership between Shell and BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY), with this collaboration initiated in March 2022, aimed at cultivating a robust EV charging infrastructure across China.

In addition to its core charging services, this station offers an array of amenities, including retail outlets, coffee shops, dining facilities, and lounges, enhancing the overall customer experience. Moreover, the station contributes to sustainability efforts by utilizing solar panels on its roof, generating an impressive 300,000 kWh of electricity annually, all dedicated to charging customers’ vehicles.

China stands as a pivotal growth market for Shell’s retail and mobility ventures, with the utilization of Shell’s charging stations in the country exceeding industry averages by two to three times. István Kapitány, the executive vice president of Shell’s global retail and mobility business, emphasized the significance of this market.

Shenzhen, where the station is located, is a key player in China’s electric vehicle landscape, boasting a substantial population of 860,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs) as of the first half of the year. It’s worth noting that Shenzhen is also the headquarters of BYD, China’s largest NEV manufacturer.

The city is committed to accelerating the development of supercharging stations and is projected to have 300 such stations in operation by 2025, with the ambitious goal of reaching 1,000 by 2030.

BYD and Shell embarked on a global strategic partnership on March 23, 2022, with plans to commence their collaboration in China and Europe, followed by global expansion. Their initial agreement included the establishment of a joint venture dedicated to constructing an extensive EV charging network in China.

Anticipated to oversee more than 10,000 EV charging terminals in Shenzhen, this joint venture has ambitions to extend its operations to other Chinese cities in the future, as outlined by BYD.

Shell’s commitment to sustainable mobility also extends to a strategic cooperation agreement signed with Nio (NYSE: NIO) in November 2021, focused on building battery swap stations in both China and Europe. Notably, the first Nio-Shell battery swap and supercharging station commenced operations in Xiamen, Fujian province, on August 1, 2022. Furthermore, in May of this year, the first Nio-Shell battery swap station in Europe was launched in the Netherlands, exemplifying Shell’s commitment to facilitating electric mobility on a global scale.