ANN/CHINA DAILY – Shell Plc’s largest global electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in China highlights the country’s growing significance in the EV sector, according to industry experts.
Shell, headquartered in London, recently announced plans to construct this EV charging facility near Shenzhen Baoan International Airport in South China’s Guangdong province. It will feature 258 public fast-charging stations, solidifying China’s role in the EV industry.
It is operated by Shell in Shenzhen and BYD Electric Vehicle Investment Co Ltd as a joint venture, it said.
Shell and BYD signed a strategic cooperation agreement last year to help accelerate the energy transition and improve charging experiences for EV customers.
The joint venture currently operates more than 13,000 charging points in Shenzhen. The Shell Recharge Shenzhen Airport EV Station served more than 3,300 EVs every day during its trial operation.
In addition to EV charging, the station offers services ranging from convenience retailing, coffee, vending machines and a driver lounge.
“The opening of this new site is part of our ongoing commitment to meet the evolving needs of our customers in China,” said Shell’s global executive vice-president for mobility Istvan Kapitany.
“We know that EV drivers are looking for a charging experience that is fast, convenient and comfortable and this is reflected in the utiliation rates of our sites in China, which are two to three times the local industry average.
China is one of the most important growth markets for Shell Mobility and we look forward to offering pleasant mobility experiences to more customers in China in the future.”
An analyst said Shell’s plan to build the world’s largest charging station in Shenzhen is due to the leading position of the metropolis in new energy vehicle development.