China's EV Charging Infrastructure

China's EV Charging Infrastructure

China is an infrastructure titan, committing trillions to expanding and shoring up the country’s energy and transportation systems.china ev charging infrastructure It’s a theme that’s carried over into electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, where Chinese companies have sprung up like wildflowers to manage the nation’s massive network of public and private chargers.

But while China leads the EV revolution with 60 per cent of global sales, its charging network struggles to keep up with demand.china ev charging infrastructure It takes an extraordinary amount of power to fill the batteries of a modern EV, and there are often long distances between charging points. On the highway, riders have to wait up to four hours in line for a plug, a problem made worse during the “golden week” holiday, when drivers flock to the roads in their NEVs.

This is a significant challenge given the sheer size of the country.china ev charging infrastructure And yet the government is determined to solve it, with Beijing offering taxpayer-funded subsidies to bolster the number of charging stations and encouraging local governments to build more.

The result is that by 2025, it aims to have at least 60% of its highway service areas fitted with chargers.china ev charging infrastructure The network is also growing at the other end of the spectrum, with private operators installing tens of millions of chargers at homes and workplaces. But these chargers are rarely used, with utilisation rates around eight per cent on average, according to research firm Rystad Energy.

With such low utilisation rates, it’s no wonder commercial charger operators struggle to break even.china ev charging infrastructure Shenzhen-listed company TELD, the largest provider of public chargers in China with a nationwide network of 466,000 units, reported in April that it had made a net loss of 26 million yuan ($3.6 million) for the year to the end of March. The same period saw its revenue climb by a mere 1 million yuan.

But the good news is that utilisation rates are improving, particularly in the urban centres of key cities where China’s EV penetration is strongest. This is due to better technology and improved awareness among motorists of how to maximize the use of chargers. The challenge now is to replicate this success across the entire country, especially in rural and outlying areas where the EV revolution remains in its infancy. For this, new metrics for assessing charging needs need to be developed, and localized charging plans should be built on the basis of data-driven assessments. Only then will the EV revolution reach its full potential. This article was adapted from a report by China Daily. You can read the original here. China Daily is a leading Chinese national newspaper with a worldwide readership. It provides a unique insight into the latest developments in China and the world, covering politics, society and culture. It also offers in-depth analysis of economic and business issues. The paper is available in print and digital editions. Subscribers can also access a range of subscription packages, including China Daily and the Weekly World Economy and Finance Supplement.