EDP ramps up its investment in electric mobility solutions in Brazil by announcing a new project with three major automotive companies: Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen (VW) are the Portuguese company's partners in the deployment of 30 ultra-fast charging stations for electric vehicles. Boasting an investment of over €7 million (R$32.9 million), this is the largest ultra-fast charging station project in Latin America. The development of the network will kick off in 2019 and should be completed in three years, with the first inaugurations scheduled for 2020.

Besides covering the entire state of São Paulo, the new network will also provide connections to the country's major electric corridors, which include 64 charging stations (in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Vitória, Curitiba, and Florianópolis) across 2,500 kilometers.

These new charging stations will make EDP the ultra-fast charging leader in Brazil. Each charging station will have an ultra-fast and a semi-fast charging device; thanks to these new charging stations, it will be possible to recharge a car battery to 80% of its capacity in 25 to 30 minutes. Audi, Porsche and VW will be EDP's partners in this project, using their vehicles to test the infrastructure and prepare its certification. ABB, Electric Mobility Brasil and Siemens will provide the charging solutions. The project has already been approved by the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL).

“EDP believes that providing adequate infrastructure and innovative solutions plays a crucial in the sustainable expansion of electric mobility in Brazil. By creating a network of charging stations that will cover the entire state of São Paulo and connect the country's major electric corridors, EDP is once again in a pioneering position to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy,” says EDP Brasil CEO Miguel Setas.

The electric mobility projects EDP has submitted to ANEEL already amount to over €10 million (R$50 million) via this entity's Research and Development Fund, EDP's own resources, and partners' funds. These initiatives will allow us to study and develop a business and charging model applicable to the entire Brazilian territory for the sale of charging solutions, as well as technological applications that will inform electric vehicle drivers about the location and availability of charging stations in each region and the possibility of early booking. Research will also focus on the possibility of providing services to platform drivers. Finally, there is a project to fine-tune a mobile charger that will help drivers when batteries run out before reaching a charging station.

“With the launch of this charging station network, Brazil is taking an important step towards the low-carbon economy of the future. 60% of the energy consumed in the state of São Paulo comes from renewable sources, and this initiative will make our energy matrix even more renewable and sustainable,” says State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment Marcos Penido.

EDP has committed to electrify 100% of its global fleet by 2030 and to develop new business solutions that will advance the energy transition process. In Brazil, the company has already made important investments in the sector. Last year, EDP inaugurated an electric vehicle supply corridor between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Spread over 430 kilometers along Presidente Dutra highway, the charging station network has made it possible to travel between Brazil's most populous cities on an electric vehicle.