More Chinese families are now able to celebrate the Lunar New Year with greater ease, thanks to a rapidly expanding network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the country. This year, the annual holiday homecoming—a tradition for millions of migrant workers—was made significantly smoother for those choosing to drive their EVs, a trend fueled by increased accessibility to charging infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. The convenience of electric vehicle travel for Chinese New Year is becoming a reality for a growing number of people.
Xu Qiang, who works in Guangzhou, exemplifies this shift. For the past three years, he has driven his EV approximately 700 kilometers to his hometown in Hunan province to spend the Chinese New Year with his family. His experience highlights the dramatic improvements in charging availability. “Three years ago, I needed an extension cord to charge the car at home, which took about two days for a full charge,” Xu told Yicai. “There was only one fast-charging station in my town and another nearby.” This year, however, nine fast-charging stations were available, with the closest just a kilometer away. “The convenience of charging your EV in rural areas is almost the same as in cities now,” he said.
The improvement represents a significant turnaround from just a few years ago. Xu recalls a time when drivers routinely faced lengthy waits. “Three to four years ago, it was common to wait in line for four hours to charge your EV one hour” on the journey from work to hometown, he noted. “Now, unless there is severe traffic congestion, you charge immediately upon arrival.” This ease of access is a key factor in encouraging more EV owners to embark on long-distance holiday travel.
Rapid Expansion of China’s Charging Network
The increased convenience experienced by drivers like Xu Qiang is a direct result of substantial investment in China’s EV charging infrastructure. In 2025, China added nearly 7.3 million EV charging stations, a 72 percent increase from 2024, bringing the national total to over 20 million by the end of the year, according to data released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) on January 21. The growth has been exponential: it took 13 years to reach the one-million milestone, five years to grow from one million to 10 million, and only 18 months to go from 10 million to 20 million.
This expansion isn’t limited to major cities. The proportion of EV charging stations located in the top 10 Chinese provinces decreased to 66 percent last year, down from 71 percent in 2022, indicating a more balanced distribution of infrastructure. As of December 31, 2025, 19 provinces had achieved full coverage of charging stations in rural areas, according to the NEA.
Holiday Travel Surge and Future Investment
The impact of this expanded network was clearly visible during the recent Chinese New Year holiday. On February 15, the first day of the nine-day holiday, the nationwide charging volume on highways reached 15.28 million kilowatt-hours, a 116 percent increase compared to the same day last year, the NEA reported on February 16. Over the first three days of the holiday, a total of 1.4 million EVs were charged on highways, representing a 63 percent increase year-over-year.
Looking ahead, the NEA has announced a “three-year doubling” initiative, aiming to reach 28 million charging facilities by the end of 2027. This ambitious plan is expected to drive investments exceeding CNY200 billion (approximately USD 29 billion as of February 24, 2026), Xing Yiteng, deputy director of the development planning department of the NEA, stated at a press conference last month.
Supporting Rural Electrification
The focus on rural electrification is particularly noteworthy. The expansion of charging infrastructure to smaller towns and villages is not only facilitating holiday travel but also supporting the broader adoption of EVs in less developed regions. This is crucial for reducing emissions and improving air quality across the country. The government’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to charging facilities is a key component of its long-term strategy for sustainable transportation.
The growth in EV infrastructure is also linked to research into the origins and domestication of citrus fruits, as a study published in 2018 by Qiang Xu of the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences examined the genetic basis of mandarin domestication. While seemingly unrelated, this highlights the broader scientific and agricultural advancements occurring alongside technological developments in China. The study details the genetic history of mandarin oranges and their cultivation.
The continued expansion of China’s EV charging network is poised to further accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, making them an increasingly viable option for both urban and rural residents. The NEA will provide updates on the progress of the “three-year doubling” initiative in regular press briefings, with the next scheduled update expected in the third quarter of 2026.
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