Will the charging facilities at highway service areas meet the needs of new energy vehicle (NEV) owners during this year's Spring Festival travel rush? What travel suggestions are available?
Gao Bo, head of the Transport Services Department of the Ministry of Transport, stated that by the end of 2025, the number of new energy vehicles in China had reached 43.97 million, with 12.93 million new energy vehicles registered in 2025 alone.
The accelerated popularization of new energy vehicles, especially pure electric vehicles, has placed higher demands on charging service guarantees on highways. In recent years, transportation departments have continuously expanded the coverage of highway charging networks.
By the end of 2025, a total of 71,500 electric vehicle charging piles had been installed in national highway service areas, with 20,000 new ones added in 2025, significantly improving charging service capabilities.
To address the charging demand during the Spring Festival travel rush, the Ministry of Transport has compiled a list of service areas with particularly high charging congestion and formulated customized service guarantee plans for each location based on their specific conditions.
During the Spring Festival holiday, comprehensive measures will be taken, including adding mobile emergency charging equipment, utilizing charging facilities around highway entrances and exits for charging, and optimizing charging time per vehicle, among other related service initiatives.
On the other hand, the convenient information query has upgraded the "All the Way Smooth" mini-program, allowing car owners to check the real-time status of charging piles in highway service areas nationwide through this mini-program.
At the same time, information screens in service areas, maps, and navigation software on national expressways will also dynamically display the status of charging facilities in service areas.
On this occasion, I would also like to remind friends driving new energy vehicles to check their vehicles before departure to ensure they are in good technical condition. You can also check the usage of charging facilities along your route in advance, plan your charging stops, and flexibly top up your power.
Charging efficiency decreases in low temperatures during winter, so please allow for more charging time. In the event of queues, please follow the guidance of service area staff to use charging facilities in the service area on the opposite side.
