During this year’s Spring Festival travel rush, the total number of new energy vehicle (NEV) trips nationwide is projected to reach 380 million, setting a new historical high for the same period. Behind this massive travel volume, highway charging infrastructure has undergone an intensive real-world stress test. Operational data released by power authorities across different regions clearly reveals the industry’s evolving trajectory in three key dimensions: technological iteration, network optimization, and refined operation & maintenance (O&M).
Technological Iteration Driving Charging Efficiency Breakthroughs
At the S33 Jixu Expressway Yutai Service Area, the commissioning of newly installed 480 kW charging equipment has increased service capacity by 300%, enabling drivers to charge from 30% to 80% in just 12 minutes. At the G1523 Yongguan Expressway Yueqing Service Area, capacity upgrades have improved power supply assurance fivefold, while charging efficiency has risen by 30%.
These figures point to a clear trend: high-power charging technology is moving from pilot demonstration to large-scale deployment. The rollout of 480 kW systems signifies substantial advancements in power module density, thermal management performance, and grid compatibility. Supporting technologies—including liquid-cooled charging cables and intelligent power distribution systems—have matured in parallel.
With charging efficiency rising sharply, single-session charging times are approaching those of refueling conventional gasoline vehicles, fundamentally easing range anxiety and reshaping travel decision-making.
From Scale Expansion to Efficiency Optimization in Network Deployment
Across Shandong Province, more than 3,800 charging parking spaces are now available at highway service areas, representing an increase of over 30% compared with last year’s Spring Festival travel season. In Jiangsu, the number of charging piles at highway service areas has surpassed 3,500 units, up 70% year-on-year.
On the surface, this reflects infrastructure expansion. However, deeper analysis of charging volume data reveals a more meaningful shift. At Yueqing Service Area in Wenzhou, average daily charging volume during the holiday period rose by over 70% year-on-year—roughly matching or even exceeding the growth in charging pile numbers. Rather than diluting utilization rates, the addition of new charging piles has led to synchronized improvements in per-unit efficiency.
This indicates that deployment strategies are no longer driven solely by numerical growth. Instead, through precise site selection and optimized power matching, newly installed facilities effectively absorb peak-period charging demand.
Emergency Support Systems Evolving Toward Refined O&M
Jiangsu Electric Power Company deployed approximately 80 mobile charging units along heavily trafficked expressways such as the Shanghai–Nanjing, Beijing–Shanghai, and Shenyang–Haikou routes, using flexible dispatch mechanisms to enhance emergency response capability. In Zhejiang, power authorities adopted a “routine inspection + peak-duty standby” model at Yueqing Service Area, maintaining 24-hour on-site readiness.
Meanwhile, Tai’an Power Supply Company in Shandong conducted comprehensive inspections of 287 charging stations and stationed personnel at highway service areas to guide drivers toward short-duration charging and nearby alternative facilities when necessary.
These measures demonstrate that charging assurance systems are evolving from static facility maintenance to dynamic resource allocation. Mobile charging units help address temporary shortfalls caused by tidal traffic flows, while the adoption of dual power supply systems strengthens operational reliability during extreme weather events. Real-time monitoring and automated early-warning functions via intelligent vehicle–grid connectivity platforms are shifting O&M from reactive repairs to proactive prevention.
Driving Industry Innovation Through the World Charging Technology and Facility Exhibition
The World Charging Technology and Facility Exhibition, a professional event covering the entire charging infrastructure value chain, showcases the latest advancements in charging modules, power devices, thermal management technologies, intelligent O&M systems, and mobile charging solutions.
The exhibition brings together hundreds of domestic and international exhibitors across 50,000 square meters of display space, presenting a comprehensive technology landscape—from core components to system integration, and from hardware equipment to digital platforms.
By building a bridge between technological innovation and market application, the exhibition accelerates the transition of new solutions from laboratory research to real-world charging stations, advancing charging efficiency, intelligent O&M, and resilience under extreme conditions. A series of technical forums will also be held to explore key industry topics, including vehicle–grid interaction, ultra-fast charging standard evolution, and charging retrofits in older residential communities, offering forward-looking insights for sustainable industry development.
Charging infrastructure underpins the green transformation of transportation. Every improvement in efficiency expands the boundaries of electric mobility, and every reliably operating charging station strengthens the foundation of the energy transition. As technological progress resonates with industrial ecosystem development, charging infrastructure will evolve beyond energy supply nodes to become a vital force in building a sustainable transportation system.