Overview
On 15 October 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other government agencies launched a three-year action plan to improve China’s EV charging infrastructure. By end of 2027, China aims to establish a nationwide network of 28 million charging facilities, with public charging capacity surpassing 300 million kilowatts — sufficient to meet demand of more than 80 million EVs.
Key measures include upgrading urban fast-charging networks, expediting charging facility upgrades in expressway service areas, and tackling rural charging infrastructure shortages. As of August 2025, total EV charging facilities stood at nearly 17.35 million units, up 53.5% year-on-year.
China’s NEV parc hit 36.89 million units by end of June, accounting for 10.27% of total vehicles. Pure electric vehicles constituted 25.539 million units (69.23% of all NEVs).
Timeline & Location
October 2025: NDRC launches three-year action plan. August 2025: 17.35 million charging facilities nationwide. 2027 target: 28 million facilities, 300 million kW public capacity. Location: China (all areas), with measures for urban, expressway, and rural coverage.
Stakeholders
Government agencies: State Council, NDRC, Ministry of Transport, MIIT, Ministry of Finance, SAT, Standardisation Administration. Infrastructure operators: State Grid Corporation of China, local government branches, EVCIPA. Private sector: NaaS Technology/NewLink (50% market share), Tesla, and others.
Digitalisation & Data
Algorithms, Python and smart use of AI (NewLink). Data cleaning algorithms used on own data. EV charging demand prediction classified into temporal factors, spatial attributes, and static features. Data on flood and seismic hazard risks for charging infrastructure. Data for siting of charging stations and cyber risk analysis.
Hazards
Exogenous Hazards
Weak but significant correlation between natural National Risk Index scores and charging deployment. Literature identifies hazard impacts from four perspectives: individual asset risk, network impacts, interdependent failures, and socioeconomic losses.
Endogenous Hazards
Growth in NEVs fuelled by government incentives (purchase tax exemptions, trade-in schemes) which may expire. International tariffs reducing US and European markets. Government subsidies to CATL rose from $76.7M (2018) to $809.2M (2023).
Cost & Benefit
Cost: National cost of subsidies, new energy/grid infrastructure, new energy generation. CCC mandatory compliance required by 1 August 2026 for EV power supply equipment.
Benefit: Resilience through redundancy of private and public charging. Sustainable transportation transition reinforcing China’s leadership in global EV adoption.
Resilience Principles Assessment
Assessment of meeting Principles of Resilient Infrastructure
Clearly Defined Accountabilities and Shared Responsibilities (P1)
Multiple government agencies: State Council, NDRC, Ministry of Transport, MIIT, Ministry of Finance, SAT, State Grid, EVCIPA, and local governments.
Proactively Protected (P2)
CCC mandatory compliance by 1 August 2026 for EV power supply equipment, ensuring product safety and reliability.
Environmentally Integrated (P3) To Do
38% of electricity from clean energy, increasingly from wind and solar. Grid strategy shifting toward strengthening local networks. Batteries circular economy considerations.
Socially Engaged (P4)
Safety through CCC controls. Availability via NDRC government action. Private and public charging offering redundancy.
Adaptively Transforming (P5) To Do
Evidence on ability to build back better through multi-agency collaborations needed.
Continually Learning and Improving (P6) To Do
Details pending.
Futures
Building electrification with distributed energy resources changing electricity demand patterns. More than 1 public charger for every 10 EVs in China. China plans 5,000 bidirectional charging stations by 2027. Early trials offer drivers up to $200 monthly in electricity buyback credits.