Quick Takeaways
- China is accelerating nationwide highway charging readiness to support long-distance electric mobility and peak travel demand.
- The plan prioritizes high-power chargers, freight corridors, and operational reliability ahead of 2026.
On December 23, China’s authorities announced a national roadmap focused on upgrading expressway service areas, placing strong emphasis on the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The China expressway EV charging expansion plan is designed to strengthen charging capacity, accelerate construction and retrofitting, and improve service reliability across the country’s highway network.
Scaling up charging capacity across expressways
Under the China expressway EV charging expansion plan, expressway service areas will see a significant increase in charging equipment by 2026. The initiative prioritizes both volume and capability, ensuring that a meaningful share of newly installed chargers support high-power charging to reduce waiting times and improve long-distance travel convenience.
Key deployment targets outlined in the plan include:
Focus on high-demand locations and peak travel periods
The China expressway EV charging expansion plan also addresses uneven demand patterns, particularly during holiday travel peaks. Service areas experiencing heavy charging loads during major holidays, or those with daily utilization rates above 40 percent, will prioritize high-power chargers for all newly built facilities.
This approach aims to:
Strengthening freight and main corridor infrastructure
Another core element of the China expressway EV charging expansion plan is the focus on strategic routes. Expressway service areas located along main national corridors and key freight routes will primarily be equipped with high-power charging facilities. Alongside deployment, operators are expected to strengthen day-to-day management and operational reliability.
By combining infrastructure expansion with improved operations, the plan seeks to ensure stable and dependable charging services, particularly during high-demand periods such as national holidays, supporting China’s broader electric mobility transition.
Scaling up charging capacity across expressways
Under the China expressway EV charging expansion plan, expressway service areas will see a significant increase in charging equipment by 2026. The initiative prioritizes both volume and capability, ensuring that a meaningful share of newly installed chargers support high-power charging to reduce waiting times and improve long-distance travel convenience.
Key deployment targets outlined in the plan include:
- Installation of more than 10,000 charging guns nationwide within expressway service areas by 2026
- At least 25 percent of these chargers to be high-power units designed for faster energy delivery
Focus on high-demand locations and peak travel periods
The China expressway EV charging expansion plan also addresses uneven demand patterns, particularly during holiday travel peaks. Service areas experiencing heavy charging loads during major holidays, or those with daily utilization rates above 40 percent, will prioritize high-power chargers for all newly built facilities.
This approach aims to:
- Reduce congestion at charging points during peak travel periods
- Improve charging efficiency for long-distance travelers
- Support smoother traffic flow on busy expressway corridors
Strengthening freight and main corridor infrastructure
Another core element of the China expressway EV charging expansion plan is the focus on strategic routes. Expressway service areas located along main national corridors and key freight routes will primarily be equipped with high-power charging facilities. Alongside deployment, operators are expected to strengthen day-to-day management and operational reliability.
By combining infrastructure expansion with improved operations, the plan seeks to ensure stable and dependable charging services, particularly during high-demand periods such as national holidays, supporting China’s broader electric mobility transition.
Industry reports & Public disclosures | GAI Analysis
Click above to visit the official source.
Share: