China to install 4.5 million charging stations for electric vehicles by 2020

Almaty. November 27. Silkroadnews – China intends to install 4.5 million charging stations for electric vehicles by 2020, China’s CNTV reports.
“One way China is trying to reduce its carbon footprint is by encouraging more drivers to switch to electric vehicles or EVs. However, without an abundance of convenient charging facilities, there was a strong reluctance to make the change. China has recognized this problem and is planning to install 4.5 million charging points around the country by 2020 – or one for every EV on the road,” the report said.
It is noted that earlier Chinese drivers of electric vehicles had to travel long distances to find a charging station and then stand in line for a long time waiting for their turn. A full charge could take several hours.
Now the charging station can be found almost anywhere in the city and payment for charging can be made using mobile phone. A full charge will take less than an hour.
The agency reminds, at present China sells more electric vehicles than the rest of the world. Official data show the number of electric vehicle owners in China exceeds a million, and is expected to grow to five million in three years. This gave rise to the need to build a network of charging stations not only in cities but along highways, including along the Silk Road from the eastern coast to the western Xinjiang.
According to the Society of Auto Engineers of China, by 2030 almost half of the country’s cars will be powered by electricity. At the same time, the cost of driving an electric vehicle is only 1/5 of driving a petrol-fueled car.