EV Charging Costs Rise? It’s Due to Electricity Pricing Reforms, Not Oil Prices

Recently, some new energy vehicle owners have reported rising charging costs, drawing public attention. CCTV News clarified that this phenomenon is not caused by rising international oil prices or "oil-fired power generation"—fuel and gas power generation account for less than 5% of China's total electricity mix, exerting negligible impact on overall electricity prices. In fact, home charging stations are subject to government-set residential electricity rates, which have remained stable over the long term. Public charging stations, however, operate under commercial/industrial electricity rates plus service fees, making their prices susceptible to fluctuations in grid-agency electricity procurement costs and resulting in peak-valley time-of-use pricing differences. Starting March 2026, China will implement nationwide electricity market reforms, abolishing fixed peak-valley tariffs and adopting a dynamic pricing mechanism based on real-time supply and demand. Consequently, higher charging costs during peak hours may be mistakenly perceived as an across-the-board price hike. Experts advise drivers to choose off-peak charging times wisely to reduce expenses.