China Targets Doubling Electric Vehicle Charging Capacity in 3 Years

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China has announced a strategic plan to speed up the development of its charging infrastructure, with the goal of doubling the current capacity to support electric vehicles by 2027. The country intends to establish approximately 28 million charging stations nationwide within the next few years.

By 2027, the total capacity of China’s charging network is expected to exceed 300 million kilowatts, enough to support over 80 million electric vehicles, according to a joint announcement from six government agencies, including the nation’s development authority.

As of August, China had installed 17.3 million charging stations, representing a 54% increase from the previous year. Public charging points numbered around 4.3 million, reflecting a 38% year-over-year growth, according to data from the national energy authority.

To achieve these objectives, China plans to expand urban fast-charging networks to accommodate various parking situations. Specifically, an additional 1.6 million direct current (DC) chargers will be installed in cities by 2027, with 100,000 high-power stations included. The infrastructure along highways will be upgraded too, with 40,000 fast chargers—each capable of delivering at least 60 kilowatts—being added or renovated in highway service areas.

The plan also addresses the need for rural charging stations, aiming to install at least 14,000 DC chargers in small towns that currently lack public charging facilities. This effort is part of a broader goal to ensure comprehensive rural coverage by 2027.

Currently, the average power output of public charging stations in China stands at only 45.5 kilowatts, which falls short of the fast-charging demands in busy urban centers and along major highways during peak travel times. The authorities plan to improve the layout and functionality of charging networks, particularly in key cities and highway service areas.

With the rapid expansion of the new energy vehicle (NEV) market, the total number of NEVs in China reached 31.4 million by the end of last year, making up roughly 9% of the total vehicle fleet. In 2024 alone, about 11.3 million NEVs were newly registered, accounting for 42% of all new vehicle registrations, according to official data.