State Grid Chongqing Hechuan Power Supply Company staff members assist drivers with charging at a supercharging station in Wanqiao village of Hechuan District, Chongqing. (Photo/Qin Xiaodong)

Chongqing - Chongqing made substantial headway in NEV charging infrastructure in the first half of this year, adding 1,468 ultra-fast stations and 2,270 piles to its digital supercharge platform.

According to the State Grid Chongqing Electric Power Company, the city’s ultra-fast charging piles delivered a total of 83.37 million kWh in the first half of the year, representing a 35-fold increase year over year.

Although ultra-fast charging piles account for only 4.45% of Chongqing’s total, they contributed 14.06% of the city’s total charging volume from January to June. Each ultra-fast charging pile delivers 182% more electricity per day than the citywide average.

To meet the growing demand for fast and convenient charging, Chongqing is accelerating the construction of ultra-fast charging stations, each equipped with at least one ultra-fast charging pile. The city's central districts are advancing plans to create a "1-kilometer ultra-fast charging circle," ensuring convenient access for new energy vehicle users.

Residents can easily locate available charging spots through the "Yuyichong" mobile app, which offers real-time mapping of nearby stations and availability. "In the past, finding a charger felt like flying blind. Now I can open the app and immediately see which ultra-fast chargers are free—it’s extremely convenient," said Chen Lei, a local NEV driver.

On the backend, the city's digital supercharge platform—launched in August 2024—supports technical coordination through a data-driven approach. By integrating data from charging piles, electric vehicles, and the power grid, the platform provides real-time tracking of construction progress and completion rates for each project. It also supports vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction and intelligently manages electricity loads to achieve efficient energy allocation.

"Since the Hami–Chongqing ultra-high-voltage direct current transmission project began operation and power delivery on June 10, it has provided us with a more stable energy supply, enabling support for the large-scale deployment and construction of the ultra-fast charging network," said Xu Tingting, head of operations for the platform.

Meanwhile, Chongqing is accelerating ultra-fast charging station construction at highways and tourist spots and expanding into rural areas to boost NEV use. The city also aims to integrate all NEVs, charging, and swapping infrastructure into its digital supercharge platform for more accessible smart charging.