Shell and Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD have unveiled the largest electric vehicle (EV) charging station in the world in Shenzhen, China. The site features 258 charging stations equipped with a solar canopy setup that generates 300,000 kWh of electricity annually. Located near the local airport terminal, the charging station is capable of charging up to 3,300 EVs per day and includes coffee, dining, and lounge facilities.
The partnership between BYD and Shell aims to develop a charging network as part of Shell’s expansion into the fast-charging space in China. Under the global strategic agreement signed in March 2022, the initial focus will be on Europe and China before exploring charging network opportunities worldwide.
The opening of the mega-charging hub is particularly significant in Shenzhen, a city with a staggering 860,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs), including both plug-in hybrids and pure battery electric vehicles. By comparison, Australia recently surpassed 120,000 EVs, with Tesla operating the largest charging sites in the country.
While Australia still has a long way to go in terms of charging infrastructure development, Tesla has made an effort to enhance the availability of chargers by opening 30 of its Australian sites to non-Tesla EVs. This move not only benefits EV drivers but also stimulates healthy competition among charge point operators, leading to the accelerated rollout of more charging sites across the country.
Although it is unlikely that we will see more mega-charging hubs like the one in Shenzhen in the near future, the goal is to establish numerous smaller hubs in major cities and towns to ensure reliable travel for EV drivers throughout the country.
Source: cnevpost
Defintions:
– EV: Electric Vehicle
– kWh: Kilowatt-hour
– NEV: New Energy Vehicle
Source: cnevpost