The surge in electric vehicle (EV) adoption in China is reshaping the country’s transportation landscape, extending beyond major cities and into rural areas, and significantly easing travel during peak holiday periods like the recent Chinese New Year. This expansion of charging infrastructure is not only alleviating “range anxiety” for EV drivers but also impacting traditional energy consumption patterns.
Xu Qiang, a resident of Guangzhou who travels to his hometown in Hunan province for the Lunar New Year, exemplifies this shift. He recounted to Yicai that three years ago, charging his EV required an extension cord and a two-day wait due to limited fast-charging options. This year, however, nine fast-charging stations were available, with the nearest just a kilometer away. “The convenience of charging your EV in rural areas is almost the same as in cities now,” he said.
The improvement is stark compared to just a few years ago. Xu noted that previously, drivers could expect waits of up to four hours for a charging slot. “Now, unless there is severe traffic congestion, you charge immediately upon arrival,” he told Yicai.
This increased accessibility is a direct result of massive investment in charging infrastructure. China added nearly 7.3 million EV charging stations in 2025, a 72 percent increase from 2024, bringing the total to over 20 million by the end of last year, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) on . The NEA highlighted the rapid pace of development: it took 13 years to reach one million charging stations, five years to reach 10 million, and just 18 months to add another 10 million.
The expansion isn’t limited to major provinces. The proportion of EV charging stations located in the top 10 Chinese provinces decreased from 71 percent in 2022 to 66 percent in 2025, indicating a more geographically balanced distribution. As of , 19 provinces had achieved full coverage of charging stations in rural areas.
The impact of this infrastructure build-out was particularly evident during the , the first day of the nine-day Chinese New Year holiday. Nationwide charging volume on highways reached 15.28 million kilowatt-hours, a 116 percent increase year-on-year, the NEA reported on . Over the first three days of the holiday, 1.4 million EVs were charged on highways, a 63 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The growth in EV adoption is also impacting gasoline consumption. A recent report indicated that EV use is contributing to a decline in China’s usual holiday surge in gasoline demand, a significant shift in the country’s energy profile.
Looking ahead, the NEA has announced a “three-year doubling” initiative, aiming to reach 28 million charging facilities by the end of . This ambitious plan is expected to attract over CNY200 billion (approximately USD29 billion) in investment, according to Xing Yiteng, deputy director of the NEA’s development planning department, who spoke at a press conference last month.
Beyond the sheer number of charging stations, the evolution of charging technology is also playing a role. While DC fast charging infrastructure is expanding, companies like Nio are pioneering alternative approaches, such as battery swapping. On , Nio reported performing a record 175,976 battery swaps in a single day, demonstrating the scalability of this technology during the peak travel period. This represents a rate of almost two swaps per second across the company’s China-wide network.
The rapid expansion of China’s EV infrastructure and the increasing adoption of EVs are not merely domestic developments. They represent a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and achieving China’s climate goals. The country’s experience also provides valuable lessons for other nations grappling with the transition to electric mobility, particularly regarding the importance of proactive infrastructure investment and innovative charging solutions.
The transformation of highway service areas is also noteworthy. Once simple rest stops, they are now adapting to the needs of EV drivers, becoming more multifunctional and service-oriented. Owners are increasingly using their vehicles as mobile homes, parking to rest or even stay overnight, further highlighting the changing dynamics of long-distance travel in China.
