National Energy Administration: EV Charging Surged During China's National Day Holiday

China's National Energy Administration released data indicating a substantial rise in electric vehicle charging demand on national highways during the 2026 National Day holiday. Statistics from over 62,700 charging facilities monitored along expressways show that from October 1 to October 7, electric vehicles were charged a total of 6.71 million times.

The total charging volume reached 163 million kilowatt-hours, marking a 51.42% increase compared to the same period last year. The first day of the holiday set a new record, with charging volume reaching 28.05 million kilowatt-hours, up 60.40% from the previous year's holiday start.

During the first three days of the holiday, an average of 989,500 charging sessions occurred daily, with an average daily charging volume of 23.87 million kilowatt-hours. This represents an increase of 48.41% and 49.39% respectively compared to the previous year. The administration attributed this growth to the expansion of charging infrastructure and the growing number of electric vehicles.

Charging services at highway service areas operated smoothly, providing necessary energy replenishment for long-distance travel. This growth aligns with infrastructure development; by the end of 2026, 85,400 charging points had been built along national highway service areas. The Ministry of Transport plans to add over 10,000 charging points in 2026.

As of the end of June 2026, China's electric vehicle fleet numbered 48.97 million, accounting for 13.19% of all vehicles. The National Energy Administration plans to continue promoting the development of charging infrastructure along highways to support green and convenient travel.