Central regulators issue plan to support NEV supercharger buildout
On Monday, the macro planner (NDRC) and energy regulator (NEA) issued guidelines promoting the buildout of ≥250 kW new energy vehicle (NEV) superchargers.
Some context: Slow charging times are one of NEV’s major disadvantages compared to internal combustion engines.
- But the rollout of supercharging technologies – which can offer hundreds of kilometers of range after a few minutes of charging – has levelled the playing field.
The notice targets the installation of over 100,000 NEV superchargers nationwide by 2027, and instructs local policymakers to:
- Integrate supercharging infrastructure development into grid planning
- Prioritize upgrades at highway service stations and charging sites with high utilization
More context: Cities, automakers, and charging infrastructure developers have already made major progress in commercializing supercharging technologies.
- In June, Shenzhen became the world’s first city to have more supercharging stations than gas stations.
- BYD has pledged to build 19,000 MW-chargers, while other companies like Huawei and Zeekr have announced similarly ambitious expansion plans.
Get smart: NEV companies and local authorities both view supercharger deployment as a vital competitive advantage in supporting auto industry growth.
- That means Beijing’s official target is likely to be far exceeded.
Get smarter: The growing availability of superchargers will deliver another blow to gas-powered vehicles’ market share.
The bigger picture: A large-scale supercharger rollout will strain power distribution networks, making infrastructure upgrades and planning a make-or-break factor for widespread adoption of superchargers.