China aims to build an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network along its expressways by the end of 2025, said Deputy Minister of Transport Li Yang on Friday.
Currently the country had installed 33,100 EV charging piles and 49,300 rechargeable parking spaces by the end of November, indicating increases of 12,100 and 16,600 respectively compared to the end of 2023, Li told reporters at a news conference in Beijing.
Except for some high-altitude and cold regions, over 5,800 out of the more than 6,000 expressway rest areas nationwide now have charging piles, Li added..
To ensure a smooth travel for EV drivers during holidays and festivals, the ministry had also required local transport departments to add more mobile emergency charging equipment and car rescue equipment along expressways before the onset of the holiday travel rushes, Li said.
"In addition to the fixed charging facilities, we also have mobile emergency charging equipment. But now we have found that mobile charging piles are no enough to meet the demand. So in many regions, they divert vehicles to other rest areas in vicinity where charging piles are idle, or even to some charging facilities off the road, to ensure that everyone can charge their vehicles," Li said.
The ministry also required local authorities to display live update on occupied or available charging piles on information boards along roads and in rest areas, as well as through navigation apps, Li said.
The ministry will focus on establishing a nationwide expressway charging infrastructure network in the coming year, according to Li.
"We aim to establish an expressway charging infrastructure network where fixed charging facilities are the mainstay, supplemented by mobile emergency charging equipment with full coverage at key spots by the end of 2025. We strive to improve our service and ensure a reliable travel experience for the public," Li said.
China to build EV charging network along expressways by end of 2025: deputy minister
