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From Race Circuit to Global Supply Chains: DHL Powers Formula E’s Boldest Season Yet in Shanghai

Asia Pacific

From Race Circuit to Global Supply Chains: DHL Powers Formula E’s Boldest Season Yet in Shanghai
Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific

From Race Circuit to Global Supply Chains: DHL Powers Formula E’s Boldest Season Yet in Shanghai

2026-07-07 18:10 Last Updated At:18:22

  • Formula E Season 12 accelerates global expansion and sustainability milestones as DHL delivers precision logistics behind one of the world's most complex sporting championships
  • Battery logistics takes center stage off track as electrification drives new supply chain demands

SHANGHAI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 July 2026 – As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Shanghai for the 2025/2026 Season, the world's premier all-electric racing Championship accelerates into its most ambitious chapter yet with a record 17 races across 11 global cities, including new circuits in Madrid and Miami.

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Shanghai for the 2025/2026 Season

ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to Shanghai for the 2025/2026 Season

Underscoring its commitment to sustainability and transparency, Formula E has also recently become the first global sport to achieve B Corp Certification, a globally recognised designation awarded to companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. "Achieving B Corp Certification is a defining milestone for Formula E and reinforces our mission to drive sustainable innovation both on and off the track," said Barry Mortimer, Paddock and Logistics Director, Formula E. "It reflects our commitment to operating responsibly as we continue to push the boundaries of electric mobility and sustainable sport on a global stage."

DHL Powers the Global Movement of Formula E

Behind the high-speed action lies a complex global logistics operation. DHL, the Official Founding and Official Logistics Partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since 2013, plays a critical role in moving the Championship seamlessly across continents, ensuring that every race is delivered with precision, efficiency and sustainability.

Each race in this season requires the transport of approximately 400 metric tons of freight, including 21 electric race cars, charging infrastructure, broadcast equipment, and critical power systems, all orchestrated through tightly coordinated multimodal solutions spanning air, ocean, rail and road.

In the lead-up to the 2026 Shanghai E-Prix, DHL executed a three-day multimodal journey from Sanya, combining ferry and road transport. This required extensive planning and documentation to ensure full compliance across multiple transport regulations, highlighting the precision and intricate choreography required to meet unmovable race-day deadlines.

Battery Logistics at the Heart of Electrified Racing

Beyond motorsport, this partnership shines a spotlight on one of the fastest-growing and most complex areas of global trade: battery logistics. As electrification accelerates worldwide, the safe and compliant transport of lithium-ion batteries has become mission-critical and increasingly challenging.

Formula E offers a vivid real-world example. Each race involves transporting approximately 31 high-performance batteries, each weighing around 400kg—far exceeding typical consumer battery thresholds and classified as regulated dangerous goods. Their transport requires strict adherence to international regulations, including IATA and ICAO standards, covering specialized packaging, state-of-charge restrictions, certified handling procedures, and multiple layers of regulatory approvals from airlines and authorities.

The complexity is further amplified by varying customs requirements of different countries and cities, and stringent transport conditions across different modes. From certified aluminum containment units and non-stackable packaging to detailed documentation and risk classification requirements, every step demands precision and deep expertise.

"Every Formula E race may look seamless on track, but behind the scenes it is a highly complex logistics operation—especially when it comes to transporting lithium-ion batteries safely across borders," said Federico Cavani, Head of Motorsports Italy, DHL Global Forwarding. "These are regulated dangerous goods that require meticulous planning, strict compliance with global standards, and specialized handling at every stage. Our partnership with Formula E showcases how advanced battery logistics can be executed safely at scale, and reflects the same challenges DHL customers face as electrification accelerates globally."

China: The Engine Driving Global Battery Supply Chains

China has emerged as the undisputed hub of the global battery ecosystem, underpinning the rapid growth of electrification worldwide. In 2025, global electric vehicle battery deployment reached 1.2 terawatt-hours (TWh), with China accounting for around 60% of the total, reinforcing its position as the largest and most dynamic market. Beyond demand, China also leads across the manufacturing value chain. The country produces over 70% of the world's lithium-ion batteries, with some estimates placing its share at more than three-quarters of global output in 2025.

The ability to move batteries safely, compliantly, and efficiently—both within China and across international markets—has thus become a critical differentiator.

"DHL Global Forwarding China partners with several of the world's leading battery manufacturers, providing end-to-end battery transportation solutions across the entire logistics value chain. The company also supports the rapidly growing energy storage logistics sector, helping customers better manage and optimize their energy storage supply chains. Each year, we handle more than 10,000 TEUs of batteries and battery-related materials exported from China, with shipments destined for major markets such as the United States and Europe," said Stephen Zhang, Vice President, Ocean Freight, Greater China, DHL Global Forwarding.

As global supply chains evolve alongside the energy transition, DHL's role extends far beyond the racetrack. From supporting EV and battery ecosystems to enabling resilient, compliant and sustainable logistics solutions, the company continues to power the shift toward a low-carbon future—one race, and one shipment at a time.

DHL Group has made significant investments in its New Energy capabilities under its Strategy 2030: Accelerating Sustainable Growth. Through DHL New Energy Logistics, a sector brand driving electrification and the energy transition, the company delivers end-to-end solutions across the full value chain, spanning wind, solar, EVs and batteries, BESS, charging, grid infrastructure, alternative fuels, and hydrogen. Leveraging a global network covering more than 220 countries and territories and supported by over 20 DHL EV Centers of Excellence and a dedicated team of trained dangerous goods specialists, DHL ensures high-sensitivity cargo moves safely, compliantly, and on time.
Hashtag: #DHL

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

DHL – The logistics company for the world


DHL
is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With approximately 389,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global sustainable trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, engineering, manufacturing & energy, auto-mobility and retail, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world".

DHL is part of DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of approximately 82.9 billion euros in 2025. With sustainable business practices and a commitment to society and the environment, the Group makes a positive contribution to the world. DHL Group aims to achieve net-zero emissions logistics by 2050.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

CHANG ZHOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 7 July 2026 - The global new energy vehicle market has seen rapid growth in recent years. With continued strong expectations for new energy vehicle exports, the global electric vehicle (EV) charging market is entering a new stage of rapid expansion. Recently, StarCharge, the global leading brand of EV Charging equipment and smart energy systems, held a major industry seminar in Hong Kong and released two new white papers at the event, exploring two major transformative trends in the industry that are worth paying attention to.

StarCharge Releases Industry White Papers: From Infrastructure to Network Systems, Microgrids Moving from Customization to Scaling Up Development

StarCharge Releases Industry White Papers: From Infrastructure to Network Systems, Microgrids Moving from Customization to Scaling Up Development

Charging stations are becoming a key connection of smart energy systems

According to the 'Technical White Paper' by StarCharge, for years, EV charging infrastructure has mainly been seen as support for vehicle sales expansion: building more chargers, expanding coverage, and speeding up charging.

However, this role is starting to change.

As electrification scales up, charging networks are becoming a part of the energy system itself. They are no longer just places for vehicles to top up; they are evolving into smart energy nodes connecting vehicles, the grid, distributed energy, storage, and digital management.

This shift from charging infrastructure to charging network systems shows that the industry is moving from basic access to integrated value: from charging services to energy services, from standalone stations to PV-storage-charging systems, from equipment deployment to scenario-based infrastructure.

StarCharge believes that the future charging network ecosystem will go through four major turning points.

Four Key Points Reshaping the Ecosystem

1. Charging Networks Are Becoming Energy Infrastructure

Charging infrastructure is going beyond its original role as just a support for EVs. As EV adoption grows, charging networks are becoming strategic energy infrastructure: they connect mobility demand with the grid, distributed energy, storage, digital platforms, and future energy services.

2. Defining the Scenarios for the Network

The future charging network won't be shaped by hardware alone. Policies determine whether infrastructure should be built, technology determines the speed of construction, but real-world scenarios determine what the charging network actually needs to look like.

Urban commuting, highway trips, ride-hailing, logistics fleets, county and rural coverage, holiday peak demand, heavy trucks, mining areas, ports, airports, and autonomous driving all create different charging needs. Therefore, a mature charging network can't be 'one-size-fits-all'; it has to be designed around different vehicle types, operating hours, power requirements, reliability needs, and grid conditions.

3. Digital platforms turn charging networks into operable assets

A large charging network only truly has value when it can be scaled, optimized, and managed. This is exactly the core role of cloud platforms. They turn millions of charging points, users, stations, transactions, and energy flows into a measurable, controllable, and continuously optimized operating system.

StarCharge's platform capabilities cover site selection, pricing, marketing, station operations, smart maintenance, charging safety, station robots, AI-based smart charging, fleet management, energy optimization, and ESG reporting. In other words, digital platforms are the key to transforming charging infrastructure from a heavy-asset network into smart, operable, and scalable assets.

4. Charging stations are becoming grid-friendly energy resources

The next-generation charging infrastructure won't be defined by any single technology. It will be built on a complete tech stack, combining high-power charging, liquid cooling, integrated PV-storage-charging, DC bus architecture, V2G, automated charging, and AI-driven operations. In other words, future charging stations shouldn't just be passive electricity consumers that add stress to the grid. Through energy storage, renewable energy integration, V2G, smart scheduling, and AI-based energy optimization, charging stations can become grid-friendly energy resources.

This means that aside from charging vehicles, a charging station can absorb renewable energy, buffer peak loads, respond to demand-side signals, support peak shaving and valley filling, regulate frequency, and provide carbon-neutral ESG data for fleet operators. Its business model will also go beyond charging fees, creating new value through energy services, data services, carbon-related benefits, and grid interaction capabilities.

Microgrids Have Emerged at the Right Time

At the same time, with the continuous development of distributed energy and photovoltaic energy, microgrids have emerged at the right time. They are not just a product, but a local energy system built around real-world scenarios.

In the latest "White Paper" on scenario-based microgrid technology, StarCharge points out that microgrids are moving from customized engineering projects toward scalable, replicable energy systems.

StarCharge Releases Industry White Papers: From Infrastructure to Network Systems, Microgrids Moving from Customization to Scaling Up Development

StarCharge Releases Industry White Papers: From Infrastructure to Network Systems, Microgrids Moving from Customization to Scaling Up Development

A microgrid is a scenario-based local energy system

According to StarCharge, a microgrid is not a single device, nor is it just an energy storage product. It's a local energy system designed around the needs of a specific scenario, coordinating local generation, loads, storage, control, and operational strategies within a defined electrical boundary.

Moreover, depending on the scenario—such as data centers, individual charging stations, zero-carbon industrial parks, or green mines—the energy challenges are completely different. The right microgrid is defined by the scenario it serves.

The white paper also highlights four high-value paths: electricity-computing synergy, independent power supply, zero-carbon parks, and green mines. In areas with weak grids or limited grid access, microgrids ensure the operation of critical loads. In emerging load scenarios like data centers and industrial parks, microgrids support renewable energy integration, energy resilience, and cost optimization. In high-tech-demand scenarios like mines, microgrids become the foundation for ensuring production continuity, energy transition, and ESG competitiveness.

The three-stage evolution of microgrids

As power sources and loads become increasingly DC, microgrid architectures are evolving from AC-dominated systems to AC-DC hybrid systems, and eventually toward microgrids with a higher proportion of DC.

Microgrid 1.0 — dominated by AC architecture. It integrates renewable energy into the existing AC grid framework, but its control heavily relies on grid-following management and support from the external grid.

Microgrid 2.0 — the AC-DC hybrid stage. AC and DC buses coexist, allowing PV, storage, and DC loads to connect more directly. Bidirectional power hubs, solid-state transformers (SST), and energy routers become important bridges between AC and DC systems. This stage balances strong AC compatibility with higher DC efficiency and is expected to remain mainstream in the next 10-15 years.

Microgrid 3.0—it's the era of DC microgrids. As solar PV, wind power, battery storage, data centers, LED lighting, and EV charging increasingly move toward DC, DC microgrids can reduce repeated AC-DC conversion losses, simplify control, and support millisecond-level responses.

This evolution is closely linked to the mission of microgrids: breaking through energy access bottlenecks, enabling sustainable development, connecting technology, industry, policy, market, and community needs, and unlocking the integrated value of local energy systems.

In the future, StarCharge will steadily expand into the growing global markets for new EVs and renewable energy, building on its smart energy systems that have been widely validated in the Chinese market.

Hashtag: #StarCharge

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

** This press release is distributed by Media OutReach Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

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