Price Wars Plague EV Charging Industry; Service-Centric Shift Key to Breakthrough

As the penetration rate of new energy vehicles surpasses 45%, the EV charging infrastructure sector finds itself trapped in a vicious cycle of overbuilding and shrinking profits. An influx of new entrants has driven service fees sharply downward—dropping from RMB 0.23 per kWh to as low as RMB 0.17 per kWh in some regions—nearing the breakeven point for operational costs. Burdened by fixed expenses such as electricity tariffs, power losses, and rental fees, many charging stations are now operating at a loss. Industry insiders admit frankly: "Running a charging station really isn't a profitable business." Amid intensifying homogenous competition, the industry is shifting its focus from price wars to service quality. Regions like Zhejiang have already introduced a star-rating evaluation system for charging stations, emphasizing safety, efficiency, user convenience, and green, low-carbon operations to drive service upgrades. Only by moving beyond cutthroat price competition and embracing rational, quality-driven rivalry can the sector achieve a win-win outcome for users, operators, and the industry as a whole.