Private firms encouraged to further invest in nation's EV charging service

政府鼓励私营企业进一步投资全国电动汽车充电服务

China's private sector has been playing a key role in expanding the country's public electric vehicle charging network, with private enterprises accounting for a significant share of the fast-growing market, according to the nation's top energy authority.

据中国最高能源当局称，中国私营部门在拓展全国公共电动汽车充电网络中一直发挥着关键作用，其中私营企业在快速增长的市场中占据重要份额。

The National Energy Administration is encouraging private enterprises to participate in the battery services sector to meet the growing demand for EV charging, reducing the need for government funding and enabling a more market-driven approach.

国家能源局正鼓励私营企业参与电池服务领域，以满足电动汽车充电不断增长的需求，减少对政府资金的依赖，并推动一种更由市场驱动的模式。

As of early this year, there were more than 10,000 charging operators across the country, with private companies accounting for over 80 percent of large-scale operators — those managing more than 10,000 charging facilities — contributing to a more reliable and advanced charging network, the administration said.

国家能源局表示，截至今年年初，全国共有超过 1 万家充电运营商，其中私营企业在大型运营商（即管理超过 1 万个充电设施的运营商）中占比超过 80%，助力构建更加可靠和先进的充电网络。

China's central leadership has vowed to continue promoting private sector involvement in major energy projects this year, including nuclear power, oil and gas exploration, energy storage, smart grids and other general power infrastructure construction, to deliver more efficient and smooth operation of the market.

中国中央领导层已承诺，今年将继续推动私营部门参与重大能源项目，包括核电、油气勘探、储能、智能电网及其他常规电力基础设施建设，以实现市场更高效顺畅的运行。

The private sector has been serving as a key engine driving China's economic development in recent years, which has further spurred technological innovation and increased efficiency, enhancing the Chinese economy's overall competitiveness and sustainability.

近年来，私营部门一直是推动中国经济发展的重要引擎，这进一步促进了技术创新、提升了效率，增强了中国经济的整体竞争力和可持续性。

According to the administration, China's four largest charging operators, including Teld New Energy Co and Star Charge, are all private companies and collectively hold more than 50 percent of the market.

国家能源局表示，包括特来电新能源有限公司和星星充电在内，中国四大充电运营商均为私营企业，合计占据超过 50% 的市场份额。

The rapid growth of the private sector's participation in the construction of a public EV charging network comes as China expands its EV charging infrastructure to support the world's largest electric vehicle market.

正值中国扩大电动汽车充电基础设施以支持全球最大的电动汽车市场之际，私营部门参与公共电动汽车充电网络建设的步伐迅速加快。

According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China boasts the world's largest new energy vehicle consumption market, and Chinese NEVs account for more than half of the world's total.

国家发展和改革委员会表示，中国拥有全球最大的新能源汽车消费市场，且中国新能源汽车销量占全球总销量的一半以上。

By the end of 2024, the country's total number of charging facilities had reached 12.82 million, up 49 percent year-on-year, according to data from the National Energy Administration.

国家能源局数据显示，截至 2024 年底，我国充电设施总量已达 1282 万台，同比增长 49%。

The total charging volume by the end of last year exceeded 110 billion kilowatt-hours, marking a 38 percent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, China has also installed 35,000 charging stations along its highway service areas, covering 98 percent of the network, the administration said.

国家能源局表示，截至去年年底，全国充电电量超过 1100 亿千瓦时，同比增长 38%。同时，我国已在高速公路服务区建成 3.5 万座充电站，覆盖 98% 的高速公路网络。

Data released by the China Electricity Council shows that the battery charging and swapping sector — one of the fastest-growing industries in terms of electricity demand — registered an annual growth rate of 62.1 percent since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

中国电力企业联合会发布的数据显示，作为用电需求增长最快的行业之一，电池充换电领域自 “十四五” 规划时期（2021-2025 年）开启以来，年增长率达到 62.1%。

Last year, the electricity consumed by battery charging and swapping services witnessed an impressive jump of 50.9 percent, with total usage reaching 81.1 billion kWh, the council said.

中电联表示，去年电池充换电服务用电量实现 50.9% 的大幅增长，总用电量达到 811 亿千瓦时。

Industry experts said the push to expand charging infrastructure aligns with China's broader efforts to accelerate its transition to NEVs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

行业专家表示，推进充电基础设施建设与中国加速向新能源汽车转型、减少对化石燃料依赖的更广泛努力相契合。

Lin Boqiang, head of Xiamen University's China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy, said the central government has rolled out policies to encourage investment in the sector, including financial incentives and land-use support for the construction of charging stations.

厦门大学中国能源政策研究院院长林伯强表示，中央政府已推出多项政策鼓励该领域投资，包括针对充电站建设的财政激励和用地支持。

A diverse mix of public and private players fosters competition, which can pull down costs, improve user experience, and promote long-term sustainability of the charging network, he said.

他表示，公共和私营主体的多元参与促进竞争，这能够降低成本、改善用户体验，并推动充电网络的长期可持续发展。

Data shows that the number of NEVs on the road in China has continued to increase at a faster pace, reaching 31.4 million by the end of last year, a 260-fold surge over the past decade, thanks to the country's technological progress and its improvement of charging infrastructure.

数据显示，中国新能源汽车保有量持续快速增长，截至去年年底达到 3140 万辆，较过去十年增长 260 倍，这得益于中国的技术进步和充电基础设施的完善。

Lin said that as China's energy sector is increasingly driven by market forces, it is expected that private companies will receive greater encouragement to invest in energy development, utilization and infrastructure projects.

林伯强表示，随着中国能源领域日益由市场力量驱动，预计私营企业将获得更多鼓励，投资能源开发、利用和基础设施项目。