Strengthening Charging Network Service Capacity to Build a New Power System
The large-scale development of electric vehicles (EVs) requires further enhancement of charging network infrastructure. According to data from the Ministry of Public Security, as of the end of June 2024, China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet reached 24.72 million units, including 18.13 million pure electric vehicles (PEVs). In the first half of 2024, NEV sales penetration rates exceeded 50% in Hainan, Zhejiang, and Guangxi, and surpassed 40% in 12 provinces and municipalities, including Guangdong and Jiangsu. Authorities predict that China’s NEV fleet will exceed 40 million units by 2025 and surpass 80 million units by 2030. As EVs scale up, China’s charging infrastructure will maintain rapid growth. By the end of June 2024, the national charging infrastructure totaled 10.243 million units, including 3.122 million public chargers and 7.121 million private chargers. Charging operators, automakers, traditional energy firms, and state-owned enterprises will further increase investments in charging facilities, while governments will advance infrastructure development in a phased, categorized manner.
1. EVs Are Critical Components of the New Power System
EVs inherently act as mobile energy storage devices, enabling them to participate in grid interactions as flexible loads. They can balance fluctuations in distributed photovoltaic (PV) and integrated energy systems, making them pivotal nodes in future energy networks. Flexible pricing mechanisms for charging/discharging, virtual power plants (VPPs), and aggregated trading can support the development of new power systems. However, localized grid constraints currently limit EVs’ potential as demand-side flexibility resources. To address this, the Action Plan for Accelerating the New Power System (2024–2027) proposes:
- Enhancing grid compatibility of EV charging facilities.
- Studying grid capacity for charger integration to improve connectivity.
- Exploring coordinated scheduling models for active distribution networks integrating main, distribution, and microgrids.
- Prioritizing EV charging network expansion.
2. Urban Charging Remains a Bottleneck
To meet diverse urban travel needs, the Action Plan emphasizes prioritizing charging infrastructure in residential, office, commercial, industrial, and leisure zones to improve user convenience and satisfaction.
3. Inter-City Charging Networks Are a Priority
To support long-distance travel, the plan calls for:
- Building fast-charging stations along highways to serve inter-city and cross-provincial trips.
- Expanding charging coverage in suburban, tourist, and rural areas, forming a multi-layered network (urban grid, highway corridors, rural nodes) that aligns with grid upgrades.
4. EV-Grid Integration Is a Key Trend
Smart charging guidance systems will leverage price incentives to encourage users to participate in demand-response programs. By refining time-of-use pricing and exploring discharge compensation mechanisms, users can reduce costs while providing grid services like peak shaving, frequency regulation, and backup power. Bidirectional energy and data flows between EVs and the grid will enhance grid stability, leveraging batteries as flexible storage resources.
5. Standardization Is Essential for Stability
To address compatibility issues and ensure safe, efficient development, standards for smart charging, high-power discharging, and cross-sector integration (e.g., vehicles, grids, energy markets) must be strengthened. China will promote global alignment of charging standards, enhancing its influence in international energy technology collaboration.