Aiming at encouraging Brazil energy transition and promoting mobility solutions based on clean sources, EDP, a company that operates throughout the value chain of the electricity sector, announces the installation of 30 new ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations covering the entire state of São Paulo. Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen will be EDP partners in this project, conducting tests with their vehicles for infrastructure approval. The charging solutions will be provided by ABB, Electric Mobility Brasil and Siemens.

At the venture will have an investment of R$ 32.9 million and will connect a total of 64 charging points connecting São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Vitoria, Curitiba and Florianópolis, forming a corridor of electric cars supplying over 2,500 kilometers in length. Approved at the National Agency of Electrical Energy (Aneel) public call for Efficient Electric Mobility, this is the first and largest project in South America to install ultra-fast chargers (150kW and 350kW). Implementation of the network will begin in 2019 and first openings are scheduled for 2020, with completion within three years.

At the new electric stations will position EDP as the leader in ultra-fast charging stations in Brazil - capable of replenishing 80% of a car battery within 25 to 30 minutes. There will be 29 150kW (DC) stations and one 350kW (DC) station, plus 30 22kW (AC) equipments. Thus, each recharge point will have an ultra-fast and a semi-fast station. ABB, Electric Mobility Brasil and Siemens companies will be the suppliers of recharge solutions.

“EDP believes that providing adequate infrastructure and innovative solutions is crucial to the sustainable expansion of electric mobility in Brazil. With the creation of this new electric station network covering the entire state of São Paulo and connecting the main electric corridors in the country, EDP is once again in a pioneering position to lead the transition to a low carbon economy”, says Miguel Setas, chairman of EDP in Brazil.

“The wave of vehicle electrification is arriving becoming more intensely in Brazil and this project will play a key role, especially in the confidence of consumers, who now have more confidence in the quality and quantity of charging stations. For Audi it is a very important step because the e-tron, the brand first 100% electric SUV, will be launching in the Brazilian market by May 2020”, says Johannes Roscheck, CEO and Chairman of Audi do Brasil. “Around the world, the company plans to launch 30 electrified models by 2025.”

“The implementation of this partnership represents a breakthrough towards a comprehensive fast loading infrastructure in Brazil. This is an important initiative to create a functional charging environment and ensure that electromobility is accepted and expanded”, says Andreas Marquardt, CEO of Porsche Brazil. “We recently launched Taycan, the brand first purely electric sports car. With the new charging stations it is possible to offer comfort and safety so that our customers can use their electric vehicles on long trips without compromising on convenience. The 350kw Fast Charging Station can charge 80% of the Taycan battery in just 22.5 minutes - the equivalent of an approximate range of 400 kilometers. It will reach the market by 2020, bringing electric mobility to everyday use.”

 “The partnership with EDP is a very important step in the electrification strategy we are starting this year in the Latin America region, with the arrival, by 2023, of six new hybrid and electric models. The first one to arrive in Brazil this year is the Golf GTE, a 900 km autonomous hybrid plug-in vehicle that combines sporting performance with excellent energy efficiency”, explains Pablo Di Si, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Latin America. “We know that there is a need for extensive ecosystem and infrastructure preparation for electric cars in the country, so that these vehicles are indeed viable for everyone. This project will provide the infrastructure we need to consolidate our strategy in the region.” 

Knowledge Generation

In all, the electric mobility projects presented by EDP in the Aneel Public Call represent an investment of around R$ 50 million, via Aneel Research and Development Fund, own resources and partners. These initiatives will enable the study and development of a nationwide business and billing model for the sale of charging solutions to the end customer, as well as technological applications to inform electric vehicle drivers about the location and availability of recharging stations in each region, with the possibility of advance reservation.

At the same time, a service offering model for apps drivers will also be researched. Finally, R&D studies will make it possible to create and refine a mobile charger to help drivers whose batteries discharge before reaching an electric station.

“As this supply network is entering into operation, Brazil is taking an important step towards the future for a low carbon economy. In the state of São Paulo, 60% of the energy consumed is from renewable sources and this initiative will further strengthen so that our energy matrix will continue to be renewable and sustainable”, explains the state secretary of Infrastructure and Environment, Marcos Penido.

The future of mobility

According to a recent survey published by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), electric vehicles will account for 57% of worldwide sales by 2040, with more than 56 million units, compared to two million in 2018. In parallel to this movement, the combustion car market is expected to shrink to 42 million units in just over two decades, from 85 million in 2018.

In Brazil, in order to stimulate electric mobility, Aneel has opened a public call that has received 38 project proposals over the last months, with an investment expectation that exceeds half a billion reals. 

At the goal of this initiative is to generate the infrastructure and knowledge needed to boost the electric car market. In Brazil, currently, there are more than 8,500 hybrid and electric vehicles in circulation. According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, the number of electric cars in Brazil is expected to reach two million by 2030.

Global commitment

EDP has a global commitment to electrify 100% of its fleet by 2030, as well as to develop new business offerings and solutions that promote the energy transition. In Brazil, the Company has already made significant investments in the sector. Last year, it opened an electric vehicle supply corridor between Rio and São Paulo. Installed along 430 kilometers of the Presidente Dutra Highway, the chain of charging stations made it possible to make a complete electric vehicle trip between the two most populated capitals in Brazil. Recently, EDP began the installation of the largest electric vehicle charging chaing in Espírito Santo, with the implementation of seven charging points distributed throughout the state.

About EDP in Brazil

With over 20 years of experience, EDP is one of the largest private companies in the electricity sector operating throughout the value chain. The Company, which has over 10,000 direct and outsourced employees, operates in Generation, Distribution, Transmission, Trading and Energy Services. It has six hydroelectric and one thermoelectric generation units, and serves about 3.5 million customers through its Distributors in São Paulo and Espírito Santo. Recently, EDP became CELESC main shareholder in Santa Catarina. In Brazil, EDP is a reference in areas such as Innovation, Governance and Sustainability, having been in the B3´s Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) for 13 consecutive years.