Enel and BYD (Build Your Dreams) have signed a global framework cooperation agreement to develop joint projects focussed on electric mobility and energy storage. Enel recently made the news as they partnered with Nissan to develop xStorage – the companies battery storage solution that uses second-life Nissan Leaf batteries. BYD has a compelling range of electric cars and buses on sale in China and worldwide.
BYD uses less common lithium iron-phosphate batteries that use iron (FE) as a core component to ensure safety, stability and a long battery life. The BYD E6 is a popular electric car that uses this technology and is frequently bought as an electric taxi. At the time of its launch the E6 offered a greater range than its immediate competitors like the Nissan Leaf and VW e-Golf.
The agreement, signed in the Chinese city of Shenzhen by Enel’s Head of Innovation and Sustainability Ernesto Ciorra and Wang Chuanfu, Founder and Chairman of BYD, will pave the way for possible cooperation projects targeting electric buses and other transport services, as well as residential, commercial and industrial applications based on BYD’s lithium batteries. Ernesto Ciorra, Head of Innovation and Sustainability at Enel, said:
“We are pleased to announce this new collaboration with BYD, given its scale and proven leadership in the battery and electric vehicle businesses. Enel and BYD will make use of their respective skills and geographic presence in order to support their extensive efforts in promoting the electrification of public transport, as well as new customer services, based on stationary energy storage technologies. Enel is proud to offer its wide-ranging experience in charging infrastructure, as well as its large customer base and diversified geographical footprint. Partnerships with leading technology companies like BYD are key to Enel’s innovation strategy, which looks at developing sustainable, innovative energy solutions for the benefit of our customers and society as a whole.”
Regarding electric mobility, Enel (enel.com) and BYD (byd.com) plan to lean on technological solutions developed by both companies for vehicle charging and electric mobility, as well as explore integrated solutions for a possible joint offer to any interested parties in the global areas where Enel and/or BYD are already present. Enel and BYD will jointly explore financing opportunities to sell turnkey solutions composed of BYD electric buses and Enel’s charging infrastructure stations and electricity supply that should help provide an inexpensive but efficient and fully tested setup for municipalities wanting to go electric.
On energy storage, Enel and BYD have agreed to evaluate business opportunities in markets of interest, using BYD technology and solutions for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Source; Enel Group
