Han Ximin

ximhan@126.com

CHINESE ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing on Thursday inked a strategic partnership agreement with State Grid EV Service, an affiliate of State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid).

Under the partnership, a nationwide network of charging points under State Grid will be connected to Didi’s open auto-solutions platform in phases, toward creating an integrated mobility, recharging and energy-related service for the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) fleet that leverages Didi’s data capabilities to enhance network utilization and efficiency.

Through the connection of physical shared EV fleets, charging points and mobile Internet technology, the two parties will also explore new car service models to offer more convenient and smooth EV purchasing and user experience.

The cooperation will roll out first in northern, central and southeastern provinces including Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hunan and Jiangxi.

In April 2018, Didi elevated its portfolio of auto-related services to a separate entity, Xiaoju Automobile Solutions (XAS). Through Didi’s main app and a separate auto service app, XAS works with a broad range of automakers, fleet operators and energy partners to provide integrated automobile solutions to Didi and non-Didi drivers and car owners.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, due to active policy support for electric mobility in China’s fast-growing cities, the sales of new energy vehicles in China reached 1.25 million in 2018, accounting for over 55 percent of the total sales globally.

Ride sharing is an ideal platform for promoting more environmentally-friendly automobile and fuel industries. Through partnerships with drivers, fleets, major EV manufacturers and operators at home and abroad, Didi is currently the largest EV operator in the world with more than 400,000 EVs operating on its platform.