China’s Electric Vehicle Charging Reaches New Heights
During the recent May Day holiday, the demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging surged, testing the country’s charging infrastructure. Data from the China State Grid’s Intelligent Vehicle Network Platform indicates that in just two days, the total charging volume for new energy vehicles at highway service areas across the nation reached 15.9 million kilowatt-hours, marking a 28% increase compared to the same period last year and setting a new historical record.
This year’s May Day holiday saw a significant uptick in road trips in China. The electric vehicle sector has long been concerned about the availability of charging stations along long-distance routes. In recent years, the construction of charging piles has accelerated across various regions, making the holiday a critical test for this infrastructure.
According to reports, at the Zhi Jiang Highway Service Area along the Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway, even during peak traffic times, charging spots were readily available, allowing electric vehicles to charge without long waits. Similarly, the Cicheng Service Area on the Shenhai Expressway boasts the largest charging station on Zhejiang’s highways, with 47 charging piles fully operational.
To enhance the charging experience at the Wendeng Service Area on the Rongwu Expressway, local power authorities added two 160-kilowatt dual-gun fast charging piles to the existing four 60-kilowatt DC charging piles. This upgrade reduced the average wait time for car owners by 70%.
The Jiangsu Transport Department has launched a groundbreaking project, introducing the country’s first “mobile charging carrier” at the Pingqiao Service Area on the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway. This mobile charging facility can support simultaneous charging for up to eight vehicles and carries 3,600 kilowatt-hours of electricity, fulfilling the charging needs of over 100 electric vehicles at once. Its single-gun charging efficiency can reach up to 120 kilowatts, effectively doubling the charging speed compared to standard charging stations.
On May 2, the Ministry of Transport reported that approximately 23.33 million non-commercial passenger cars traveled on highways and regular national and provincial roads, representing a 2% increase year on year. The deputy director of the highway bureau, Tao Hanxiang, noted that this year, the May Day holiday experienced a surge in self-driving trips, with an estimated daily flow of 55.8 million vehicles on highways, making up about 99% of all passenger vehicles, showing a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024. The holiday saw a mix of short-distance travel within provinces and medium to long-distance travel across provinces, with cross-province trips notably rising compared to the Qingming Festival.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/chinas-electric-vehicle-charging-hits-record-high-during-may-day-road-trips/
