2025 Spring Festival Travel Rush: EV Makers Shift from Charging Points to Service Excellence

During the 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, China’s nationwide fleet of new energy vehicles (NEVs) reached 43.97 million, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for nearly 70%. This surge has led to mounting pressure on high-speed charging infrastructure. State Grid Corporation of China forecasts that daily peak electricity demand for highway EV charging during the Spring Festival holiday will exceed 11 million kWh—a 23% year-over-year increase. To manage this peak demand, State Grid has deployed 5,567 key service stations and distributed over one million discount vouchers via its “e-Charging” app to encourage drivers to shift charging activities to urban stations. On the policy front, more than 10,000 additional charging connectors will be installed at highway service areas by 2026, with high-power chargers comprising over a quarter of the total. Automakers are also rapidly diverging in their energy replenishment strategies: - NIO leverages its network of 3,733 battery swap stations, covering a “9-vertical, 11-horizontal” national expressway grid. - Li Auto has built over 4,000 self-operated ultra-fast charging stations, including more than 1,200 along highways, while enhancing user experience through features like low-temperature preheating and remote monitoring. - XPeng has launched “mobile charging stations,” offering vehicle-to-vehicle emergency charging along major corridors such as the Beijing–Hong Kong–Macau and Shanghai–Kunming expressways. - Xiaomi is focusing on roadside assistance and breakdown support, emphasizing “peace-of-mind travel.” This year’s Spring Festival travel rush marks a pivotal shift in the charging competition—from a simple numbers game to a multidimensional contest centered on technology pathways, operational efficiency, and user experience.