Audi and Porsche announced on Monday (8) a partnership with Raízen, an integrated energy company and licensee of the Shell brand, to expand the charging network for electric vehicles in Brazil.
The joint initiative received investments of around R$24 million (US$4.81 million) and will install 20 fast chargers, primarily at Shell gas stations, by March 2024, as part of the global Shell Recharge program.
The new recharging network will consist of 150 kW fast chargers, which charge the German manufacturers’ vehicles from 0% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes.
Through the Tupinambá application, the brands’ clients can book the charging and pay digitally.
These services allow planning the most convenient moment for vehicle recharging, avoiding eventual queues.
The customers will also have access to the other recharging points implemented by Raízen within the Shell Recharge electromobility program.
“Audi do Brasil already has a vast portfolio of electrified vehicles and seeks to advance the expansion of electric charger infrastructure in Brazil.”
“We know that the advancement of electromobility depends not only on products but also on an adequate network to serve them nationwide, and we are committed to this long-term goal,” states Daniel Rojas, CEO and President of Audi do Brasil.
“The union with Audi and Raízen to expand the fast charging stations for electric vehicles integrates a structured program of initiatives that offers comfort and convenience to our customers and reinforces Porsche’s commitment to electric mobility,” says Peter Vogel, CEO of Porsche Brazil.
“This partnership with Audi and Porsche represents another major step by Raízen to benefit electric mobility.”
“By 2022, we are investing heavily in projects that value using renewable electric energy to decarbonize the automotive sector.”
“Therefore, we are with an accelerated goal to develop more and more renewable solutions that meet the needs and desires of society to meet our goal of redefining the future of energy,” says Ricardo Mussa, CEO of Raízen.
ADVANCES IN ELECTROMOBILITY
With a long-term strategy and consistent investments in the evolution of adequate infrastructure for electric charging throughout the country, Audi Brazil and Porsche Brazil are advancing in electromobility projects in the national territory with combined investments of over R$57 million (US$11.42 million).
In this sense, the partnership with Raízen allows the manufacturers to further improve their delivery of value and service to their customers.
In late 2021, the four-ringed brand also announced an investment of R$20 million (US$4.01 million) in the integral electrification of its network of more than 40 dealerships nationwide, which began to make the 150kW charger available to their customers.
In 2022 alone, 30 dealerships in all regions of Brazil have already inaugurated new fast-charging electric points.
In addition, Audi do Brasil invested an additional R$10 million (US$2 million) in AC chargers in establishments located in important destinations for electric car owners in all regions of the country.
In 2022, Raízen launched the global Shell Recharge fast-charging program in Brazil and Argentina.
The program’s mission is to reach 2.5 million recharging points globally by 2030, and in the medium term, the company’s goal is to expand this project in Brazil and Latin America increasingly.
By the first quarter of 2023, the company has invested in new projects, expanding the network in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay through a unique platform with an optimal charging experience for customers with electric vehicles in Latin America.
So far, Porsche Brazil and its dealer network have invested R$29 million (US$5.81 million) in building a comprehensive ecosystem of charging solutions.
More than 640 AC chargers have been installed in the homes of customers of the Panamera and Taycan electric sports car lines.
Another 181 AC chargers were installed at convenience points such as hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.
Additionally, the Porsche dealer network provides 11 175kW DC chargers and 2 350kW chargers.
In 2022, the brand’s first service center in the world, combining light material repairs and high-voltage batteries, was also opened.
With information from Forbes