NEV Drivers in China No Longer Worry About Long Journeys

Beijing - For Li Dongsheng, an owner of a new energy vehicle (NEV), road trips covering around 1,000 km from southwest to north China usually trigger anxiety over range. However, during this year’s five-day Labour Day holiday, the long journey proceeded smoothly, contrary to his expectations. At the Fuping rest area in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, Li’s vehicle gained an additional 400 km of range with just 10 minutes of charging. “With more and more charging stations along the expressways, long-distance travel with NEVs is no longer an issue,” Li said. Li’s experience reflects a broader shift in China, where NEVs have become a popular choice for long-distance trips, thanks to advances in battery technology and a rapidly expanding network of fast-charging infrastructure. “The maturing NEV technology capabilities and the continuous improvement of the charging infrastructure network have helped NEVs shed their old label as short-range commuter vehicles,” said Liu Yongdong, deputy secretary-general of the China Electricity Council. “More and more NEV owners are now choosing to drive their NEVs for inter-provincial trips and to visit family during holidays,” he added. Data from China’s National Energy Administration shows that NEV charging volume on Chinese highways jumped 55.6 percent year-on-year on the first day of this year’s Labour Day holiday, setting a new record for single-day charging during the holiday. The Fuping rest area, a key hub connecting northwest, north, and south China, now has 28 charging posts and two battery-swapping stations. During the holiday, six technicians were on standby 24 hours a day to assist drivers. “The availability of charging stations can be checked in real time on digital mapping platforms,” said Gao Lipeng, manager of the rest area. “Charging a vehicle’s battery is now almost as easy as refuelling with petrol,” he added. This convenience is not just about more charging posts, but also thanks to rapid advances in battery and charging technology. Earlier this year, for example, BYD, a Chinese NEV pioneer, launched its new battery and charging technology. At normal temperatures, this battery technology takes only five minutes to charge from 10 percent to 70 percent, and nine minutes to reach 97 percent. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revealed that over the past five years, the average range of Chinese-made electric passenger vehicles has increased to nearly 500 km, while average charging speeds have more than tripled. China is swiftly shifting to electric mobility. Currently, China has more than 21 million charging posts, with full coverage at the township level achieved in 19 provinces. Local governments across China have ramped up efforts to ensure a comfortable travel experience for NEV drivers. At the Fengjing rest area in east China’s Shanghai, a charging hub, NEVs can cover 200 km in just five minutes. Mobile charging posts and emergency charging vehicles are also on standby to meet peak demand. Shanghai now operates 26 expressway charging stations providing a total of 173 charging posts, equipped with smart mobile charging robots and various other solutions at busy locations. During the first two days of the Labour Day holiday, NEV charging volume on the city’s expressways reached 167,500 kWh, up 25.82 percent year-on-year, setting a new record for the period. The push for better charging infrastructure is not limited to the passenger car sector, but also extends to heavy logistics transport. In Xin’an City, central China’s Hunan Province, drivers can now enjoy dedicated charging stations for heavy trucks. “During peak periods like the Labour Day holiday, the biggest concern for drivers is long queues of vehicles and faulty charging equipment,” said Zhai Bo, a heavy truck driver. “Seeing the staff on site checking equipment and maintaining order really gives us peace of mind,” Zhai added. According to him, with the expansion of infrastructure and ongoing technological improvements, such peace of mind can now become the norm for millions of NEV drivers across China.