Solving Charging Anxiety: New Shared Charging Stations Transform Life in Yangpu’s Old Community

“Beep!” The anxiety of charging electric vehicles is being alleviated right at home.

Located in the Yandong Community of Yangpu District, which is home to nearly 6,000 residents, this once troubled neighborhood has successfully introduced a significant number of shared charging stations. This development not only benefits the residents but also sets an example for upgrading charging infrastructure in older communities.

No More Charging Hassles

In the evening, Mr. Huang, a resident of Yandong Community, returns home in his electric vehicle. He skillfully parks next to a designated spot with a newly installed charging station. Pulling out his phone, he scans the QR code on the station, takes the charging plug, and connects it to his car. With a beep, the charging indicator lights up. Watching his vehicle begin to charge, Mr. Huang smiles with relief.

“I’ve lived here for over a decade and have owned an electric car for two years,” Mr. Huang reflects. “Charging used to be a hassle! I had to go to a commercial charging station, which was not only expensive but also required a trip to retrieve my car. Now, with so many charging stations in our community, I can easily charge my car after work, rain or shine. It’s so convenient! The charging cost is also much cheaper than external stations!”

Mr. Huang’s experience resonates with the 238 other electric vehicle owners in Yandong Community. With 2,575 households and nearly 5,800 residents, the area is one of the larger old communities under the jurisdiction of the Changbai New Village Subdistrict. As the number of electric vehicles rises, over one-third of the 721 vehicles in the community are now electric, making the challenge of finding charging options a common concern.

Where Are the Charging Stations?

“To install charging stations in the community, it’s essential that everyone understands and supports the initiative,” said Li Wei, the secretary and director of Yandong Community. To ensure the project was successful, the subdistrict, community party committee, and residents’ committee held several meetings with resident representatives, property management, and the homeowners’ association to gather opinions. After finalizing the initial plan, they repeatedly publicized it in community WeChat groups and on notice boards in the building corridors.

In a thoughtful detail before construction began, signs were placed next to each prospective charging station location, clearly indicating where they would be installed. “This way, everyone could see in advance and provide feedback or suggestions, allowing us to make timely adjustments,” Li Wei explained. This level of communication and transparency helped streamline the installation process.

Sixty shared charging stations were quickly established in various areas of the community, capable of serving 120 vehicles simultaneously.

Collaboration for Community Benefit

How did these charging stations come about? What was the funding source? Tang Weizhong, the property manager, provided insight: “We partnered with Teiyicharge, a new energy company. In simple terms, they financed the construction of these charging stations and are responsible for maintenance for the next eight years. Our community, homeowners, and the homeowners’ association don’t have to spend a single penny!” Residents simply pay for charging via a mobile app. The fee is set on a tiered pricing structure: during the day (6 AM to 10 PM), the cost is ¥1.341 per kWh, and at night (10 PM to 6 AM), it is ¥1.031 per kWh. Tang also noted, “This is not all; 10% of the revenue from these charging services is returned to our community, contributing to a public benefit fund that can be used for further community enhancements.”

Cooperation Among Neighbors

With more charging stations available, some new challenges occasionally arise. Due to the community’s age, parking spots are already limited. Sometimes, gasoline vehicles temporarily occupy charging spots, or multiple electric vehicles may need to queue for a charge. “We usually leave our contact numbers on our vehicles,” shared Mr. Liu, another electric vehicle owner. “If a charging spot is occupied, or if many cars need to charge, we just call each other. For instance, we might ask a gasoline vehicle owner to move their car to allow us to charge. Given the limited space, it’s all about understanding and coordination, and most people are quite accommodating.” This spirit of mutual assistance among neighbors has become part of the community’s harmonious atmosphere.

Since the charging stations were launched last October, their usage rates have been remarkably high, with some stations even reaching a monthly saturation point of over 120 kWh. In response, Teiyicharge has added 12 more stations based on usage data and plans to continue expanding as demand grows.

Hope for Policy Support

Although the charging station project has received overwhelming support and praise from residents, community workers have encountered some obstacles in the implementation process. Li Wei acknowledged, “One of the practical challenges we face is that installing charging stations in public areas lacks clear policy support, unlike elevator installations. For elevators, if two-thirds of the building’s residents agree, we can proceed according to established procedures. However, for promoting charging stations, if just a few residents disagree, we have to negotiate repeatedly or avoid that location.” Li Wei hopes for clearer regulations to streamline the construction of public facilities so that more practical solutions can be implemented for the community.

Despite these minor challenges, the success of the shared charging station project in Yandong Community serves as a valuable model for addressing charging difficulties in older neighborhoods. It not only brings convenience but also represents a beneficial exploration of community governance. Officials from the Changbai New Village Subdistrict indicated that they would carefully summarize the experiences from Yandong to create a replicable and scalable approach, ensuring that more residents in older communities can achieve “charging freedom” at home and enjoy the convenience of green travel.