The State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) launched its first batch of supercharging stations for EVs in China’s capital Beijing, featuring a single charging pile with a maximum output of 600 kW (kilowatts) and with the ability to serve a daily capacity of 700 vehicles, state-owned station CCTV (China Central Television News) reported today.

SGCC is the world’s largest utility company, operating China’s electricity grid and developing renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Why this matters: To date, public charging stations in China have tended to produce a maximum of around 200 kW. The launch of supercharging stations by SGCC signals China’s commitment to a clean energy transition, and specifically a push toward widespread electric vehicle adoption, crucial for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. 

Details: The first batch of supercharging stations to be put into operation includes two locations in Beijing: the Xihongmen supercharging station in Daxing District and the Dongguantou supercharging station in Fengtai District, according to CCTV.

• The two supercharging stations are both located in Beijing’s business area. The Xihongmen supercharging station features a 480-kilowatt supercharging cabinet and three charging piles, capable of serving six electric vehicles at the same time with a daily capacity of 300 charges. The Dongguantou supercharging station offers a 640-kilowatt supercharging cabinet and four charging piles, allowing for the simultaneous charging of eight electric vehicles.
• “To fit the general charging needs of most vehicles, the first batch of supercharging stations uses a 1,000-volt high-voltage technology platform and liquid-cooled charging technology,” said Huang Yu, the project manager at SGCC’s New Energy Vehicle Service Co., Ltd. Additionally, the supercharging stations can rapidly charge vehicles with super-fast charging batteries within 10 minutes, Huang added.
• The SGCC plans to build another nine supercharging stations in Beijing in the second half of the year, with a combined daily service capacity of 8,000 vehicles. These stations will be located across the capital in Tongzhou, Chaoyang, Fengtai, Yizhuang, Daxing, Shunyi, and Fangshan districts.

Context: On Tuesday, China’s National Energy Administration revealed that the total number of charging piles in China exceeded 10 million  this year. By the end of July, domestic charging piles reached 10.604 million units, up 53% from the previous year, including 3.209 million public and 7.394 million private piles.