Sinopec Group, the Chinese fossil-fuel giant, has built a total of 570 charging stations and battery swap stations, Xinhua News Agency recently reported.

In addition to adding charging stations and battery swap stations, Sinopec is also focusing on developing clean energy including hydrogen, geothermal and photovoltaic energy, according to the company's 2020 annual social responsibility report.

By the end of 2020, Sinopec's annual hydrogen production exceeds 3.5 million tons and its geothermal energy heating capacity reaches 60.44 million square meters.

Sinopec's aggressive development of new energy does not mean abandoning traditional energy sources such as petroleum and natural gas, the company said, adding that it will be promoting the integration of new and traditional energy sources.

Sinopec will aim for net-zero emissions as the ultimate goal and strive to achieve carbon neutrality 10 years ahead of the national commitment, making a positive contribution to the fight against global climate change, the company's chairman Zhang Yuzhuo said at an earnings conference in March.

He also mentioned that Sinopec will make hydrogen energy the main direction of its new energy business and will build 1,000 hydrogen refueling stations or oil-hydrogen combined stations during its 14th five-year plan to become "China's No. 1 hydrogen energy company.

Battery swap station operator Aulton, in cooperation with Sinopec, launched two battery swap stations in Shanghai and Chongqing on July 20.

On May 12, Aulton Chairman Cai Dongqing said that the company will build more than 10,000 battery swap stations by 2025 to create a shared battery swap platform to meet the energy replenishment needs of more than 10 million new energy vehicles.

On April 15, Nio's first second-generation battery swap station was officially opened at the Sinopec Chaoying gas station in Beijing, the first charging facility built jointly by the electric vehicle company and the fossil fuel giant.

Since then, however, there has been no news on the progress of their partnership.

Aulton's first battery swap stations with Sinopec go into operation

(Photo source: Aulton)