Ecovagas: Brazil’s First Semi-Public Electric Vehicle Charging Network

Enel X, Enel Brasil's energy solutions company, and Estapar, the country's largest parking lot network, signed a strategic agreement to create the first semi-public electric vehicle charging network in Brazil. The goal of the project is to boost the development of electric mobility in the country and expand the infrastructure for vehicle charging, contributing to the energy transition, decarbonization, electrification and sustainability of cities.

In the first stage of the Ecovagas project, an integrated network of 250 charging stations will be built in about 100 Estapar premium parking spots in the South, Southeast, Northeast and Federal District, such as shopping centers, airports, hospitals, arenas, commercial buildings and educational institutions.

The Ecovagas are exclusive parking spots for electric vehicles, and will have the safety of professionals for the management of facilities, maintenance of the real-time network, energy and management through technology and software that allow the level of service and system operation.

The project equipment features Enel X technology, one of the global leaders in the electric mobility market, and provides faster smart charging, supplying 80% of a plug-in electric or hybrid car's battery in approximately 3 hours.

Unlike the charging stations made available by the current market, the differential of the Enel X’s charging system is the experience provided to the client. Drivers of electric vehicles will be able, in real time, to view in an app the nearest Ecovagas points, go to the site and charge your vehicle in a few minutes. In large urban centres, for example, 90% of the charges needed to guarantee the return home only take 30 minutes. 

Estapar CEO André Iasi points out that expanding the offer of services that promote mobility within Estapar's operations is a trend:

Installation work begins in December 2020, with this first stage expected to be completed as early as February 2021. In the medium and long term, the intention is to expand the number of Ecovagas charging points to other locations, such as restaurants, other parking networks and public places.

Free for Clients of Partner Companies

The agreement between Enel X and Estapar provides that the charging service of electric vehicles will be free for customers of the project's partner companies, particularly companies in the automotive sector. The business model established foresees that car manufacturers and other interested parties, based on a monthly subscription, grant this benefit to their customers who own electric vehicles of their brands.

For the owners of vehicles from car manufacturers that have not yet signed a partnership with Enel X and Estapar, it will also be possible to use the Ecovagas for an initial period of six months so they can enjoy the service experience for free.

Enel X towards the Electrification of Urban Mobility 

Establishing partnerships is part of Enel X's business strategy to accelerate the growth of electric mobility in the world, helping to promote environmental sustainability, urban quality of life and the development of smart cities.  

In a recent partnership with Mercedes-Benz, for example, Enel X supplies and installs the JuiceBox for the owners of the brand new electric car model, the EQC 400. It is a compact, intelligent, efficient and functional electric vehicle charger, designed for simple and optimal recharging at home, at work or anywhere the client may desire.

It is worth remembering that Enel X recently completed the first Pan American electric vehicle corridor, with 196 charging points, enabling trips from Argentina to the United States.

About Enel X

Enel X is Enel’s global business line dedicated to the development of innovative products and digital solutions in sectors where energy is showing the greatest transformative potential: cities, homes, industries and electric mobility.

The company is a global leader in advanced power solutions, managing services such as 6 GW of global demand response capacity and 116 MW of power storage capacity worldwide, as well as a leading player in the electric mobility industry, with around 140,000 public and private electric vehicle charging points worldwide.

Innovation and sustainability have been at the heart of Enel X's strategy since its inception, with the circular economy being the perfect combination of these two elements, applied to many of Enel X's products and services.