According to a new policy plan, local authorities need to establish clear construction plans for charging facilities in highway service areas, prioritizing upgrades to stations with utilization rates exceeding 40% during major holidays, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced on 7/7.
The announcement emphasized the urgent need to modernize the nation's charging network as automakers introduce more EVs equipped with 800V high-voltage platforms, requiring ultra-fast charging, which typically takes only 10-30 minutes for a full charge.
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Li Auto currently has over 15,000 high-power charging piles. Photo: Li Auto |
Li Auto currently has over 15,000 high-power charging piles. Photo: Li Auto
As of 12/2024, China had 31.4 million EVs, representing almost 9% of its total vehicles. According to the latest data from the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance (EVCIPA), the number of charging piles reached 14.4 million by 5/2025, equivalent to one charging point for every 2.2 EVs.
The commission also called for the development of "smart and orderly" charging stations, encouraging off-peak charging through dynamic pricing and supporting the integration of solar energy storage systems to reduce pressure on the national grid.
From an operational perspective, the agency proposed providing charging station operators with lease agreements of at least 10 years to encourage a stable, long-term business model. It also supports the use of special local government bonds to finance high-power charging projects.
The announcement also stressed that the high-power charging network built by EV companies should be open to all users without discrimination.
Li Auto, a major domestic EV manufacturer, recently announced plans to operate 4,000 supercharging stations by the end of this year. As of June, the company has installed over 15,000 high-power charging piles.
My Anh (Yicai)
