In the global energy transition wave led by the "dual carbon" goal, new energy vehicles (pure electric, plug-in hybrid, etc.) are shifting from policy driven to market driven, becoming the core carrier of decarbonization in the transportation sector. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), global sales of new energy vehicles will exceed 14 million units in 2023, with a penetration rate of over 18%. The three major markets of China, Europe, and North America will contribute over 90% of the global increase. However, the large-scale popularization of new energy vehicles always revolves around a key issue - how to efficiently, conveniently, and safely complete energy supply?
Charging stations, as the "energy supply stations" for new energy vehicles, are the core infrastructure to solve this problem. It is not only related to users' "range anxiety", but also serves as a hub connecting the power system and transportation system, driving a paradigm shift in energy consumption from fossil fuels to electricity. From early slow charging stations to today's supercharging stations, from a single charging function to a comprehensive platform of "charging+energy storage+service", the evolution of charging stations is reshaping the user experience of new energy vehicles and reconstructing the value chain of energy services.
1、User experience: Cracking mileage anxiety and reconstructing travel ecology
For users of new energy vehicles, the core value of charging stations lies in providing "anytime, anywhere, on-demand" energy supply services, fundamentally solving the key pain point of "range anxiety" that restricts the development of the industry.
1.1 Comprehensive improvement of charging convenience
Early new energy vehicles were limited by battery technology (with a range generally less than 200 kilometers) and a lack of charging facilities, requiring users to plan their charging routes in advance and even wait for a long time for charging. Nowadays, with the increase in charging pile density and the acceleration of charging speed, users' energy supply experience has approached the refueling mode of traditional fuel vehicles:
• Complete coverage of charging network: By the end of 2023, the number of public charging stations in China has exceeded 2.7 million (including 35% of DC fast charging stations), and the coverage rate of charging stations in highway service areas has exceeded 80% (economic circles such as the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta have achieved "5-minute charging and 200 kilometer range"); The density of charging stations in major cities in Europe and the United States has also reached 8 and 5 per 100 kilometers respectively (an increase of more than three times compared to 2020).
• Diversified charging scenarios: Charging stations have extended from single scenarios such as shopping malls and parking lots to comprehensive scenarios such as highway service areas, gas stations (integrated gas and electricity stations), communities (private and shared stations), scenic spots, ports, etc. For example, NIO's "battery swapping station+supercharging station" mode can achieve a 3-minute battery replacement (equivalent to refueling time); Shell's global layout of "oil, gas, electricity, and hydrogen" integrated energy stations integrates charging services into traditional energy networks.
• Plug and play and automatic payment: through the car pile cloud interconnection technology, the user only needs to insert the charging gun into the vehicle, and the system can automatically identify the vehicle identity (such as license plate, APP account), complete the billing and payment (support WeChat, Alipay, digital RMB, etc.), without manual operation throughout. Some high-end charging stations also support the "reservation charging" function (such as automatic activation during valley electricity price periods), further reducing electricity costs.
1.2 Revolutionary breakthrough in charging speed and efficiency
The charging speed directly affects the user's time cost, and the iteration of fast charging technology is making "charging as fast as refueling" a reality:
• Technical standard upgrade: The power of mainstream fast charging piles has been increased from the early 30kW (slow charging) to 120kW (fast charging), and the power of some supercharging piles has exceeded 350kW (such as Tesla V3 supercharging pile and Xiaopeng S4 supercharging pile). Taking a pure electric vehicle with a range of 600 kilometers as an example, using a 350kW supercharging station can replenish about 300 kilometers of range in 15 minutes (charging from 30% to 80%), with charging efficiency comparable to traditional fuel vehicles.
• Collaboration of battery technology: The popularization of 800V high-voltage platforms (such as Xiaopeng G9 and Porsche Taycan) has further enhanced the fast charging compatibility of vehicles. The high-voltage platform can reduce the charging current (at the same power, the current decreases as the voltage increases), reduce wire harness heating and energy loss, and enable vehicles to adapt to higher power charging piles (traditional 400V platforms can support up to 150kW, and 800V platforms can support over 350kW).
• Integrated photovoltaic energy storage and charging: Some charging stations, such as the "photovoltaic energy storage charging and discharging" station of the special power grid, integrate photovoltaic power generation and energy storage batteries. They can use energy storage to supply power during peak hours of the grid (reducing electricity costs), or store electricity when there is excess photovoltaic power generation (improving the utilization rate of renewable energy), achieving "green charging". For example, Tesla's supercharging stations have deployed over 2000 "zero carbon charging stations" with solar roofs and energy storage worldwide.
1.3 Extension and Value added of Service Ecology
Charging stations are not only energy supply facilities, but also entrances connecting users and services. Their commercial value is expanding from single charging to the "charging+life" ecosystem:
• Rest and commercial facilities: Large charging stations (such as highway service areas and charging stations in urban core business districts) are generally equipped with facilities such as lounges, restaurants, convenience stores, toilets, etc. Some stations also provide free Wi Fi, massage chairs, children's play areas, and other services (such as the "charging+coffee" mode of Star Charging).
• Vehicle inspection and maintenance: Some charging station operators (such as State Grid and Special Power) cooperate with car companies to set up simple vehicle inspection equipment (such as battery health detection and tire pressure monitoring) in charging stations, and users can complete vehicle physical examinations simultaneously during charging; High end charging stations also provide emergency maintenance services (such as replacing spare tires and starting with a battery).
• Data services and user operations: Through charging apps such as NIO and Xiaopeng, users can view the status of nearby charging stations in real time (idle/occupied), make appointments for charging, and receive charging discounts (such as free first order for new users); Operators optimize the layout of charging stations through data analysis (such as adding stations based on user charging heat maps), and expand value-added services such as advertising and insurance (such as recommending new energy vehicle insurance for charging users).
2、Grid collaboration: enhancing the flexibility and stability of the power system
As the interface between new energy vehicles and the power grid, the large-scale development of charging stations has not only changed users' energy consumption patterns, but also had a profound impact on the operation mode of the power system. Through the integration of intelligent scheduling and technology, charging piles are becoming a "flexible adjustment resource" for the power grid, supporting the construction of new power systems.
2.1 Optimization of spatiotemporal distribution of charging load
The charging behavior of new energy vehicles has significant temporal and spatial differences (such as concentrated charging demand during morning and evening peak hours), and disorderly charging may exacerbate the peak valley difference of power grid load (according to statistics, disorderly charging can increase local power grid peak load by 20% -30%). Through intelligent charging management, users can be guided to stagger charging and smooth out fluctuations in power grid load
• Ordered Charging (V1G): Through electricity price incentives (such as peak valley electricity price difference of 0.5-0.8 yuan/kWh) or APP push notifications, users are guided to charge during low grid periods (such as 0:00-6:00 at night). For example, State Grid's "e-Charging" app recommends the optimal charging time based on real-time electricity prices, and users can save 30% -50% of electricity costs by choosing valley charging.
• Vehicle to grid interaction (V2G): Some charging stations that support bidirectional charging (such as NIO V2G stations and BYD V2G stations) can use electric vehicle batteries as distributed energy storage units to feedback electrical energy to the grid during peak hours (such as discharging for 0.5-1 hour during electricity price peaks), earning economic compensation (such as V2G discharge revenue of 0.3-0.5 euros/kWh in some areas of Germany). According to calculations, an electric vehicle with a range of 600 kilometers (battery capacity of about 80kWh) can generate an annual revenue of 1000-2000 yuan if it participates in V2G discharge twice a week (20kWh per discharge).
2.2 Distributed energy storage and grid peak shaving and frequency regulation
The combination of charging stations and new energy vehicles provides massive distributed energy storage resources for the power grid (the global number of new energy vehicles has exceeded 40 million, with a total battery capacity of over 2000 GWh). By using virtual power plant (VPP) technology to aggregate these dispersed resources, they can participate in auxiliary services such as peak shaving and frequency regulation of the power grid
• Peak shaving service: During periods of low grid load (such as late night wind power generation), charging stations charge electric vehicles (storing low-priced electricity); During peak load periods (such as the peak electricity consumption for air conditioning in summer afternoons), electric vehicles discharge to the grid (replacing some gas turbines for power generation). For example, Tesla's Autobidding platform has aggregated energy storage resources for over 100000 vehicles in Texas, California, and other locations in the United States, participating in grid peak shaving transactions.
• Frequency modulation service: The battery response speed of new energy vehicles (in milliseconds) is much faster than that of traditional thermal power units (in minutes), making it a high-quality frequency modulation resource. For example, National Grid in the UK utilizes V2G technology to quickly adjust the charging and discharging power (± 10kW/vehicle) of electric vehicle batteries when the grid frequency fluctuates (such as ± 0.1Hz), maintaining grid frequency stability.
2.3 Renewable energy consumption and green charging
The combination of charging stations with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaics and wind power can promote the "green electrification" of new energy vehicles
• Integrated photovoltaic energy storage and charging: Deploy photovoltaic panels on the roof or around the charging station (such as the "photovoltaic+energy storage+charging" station of Special Electric Power, with a photovoltaic installed capacity of 50-200kW), convert solar energy into electrical energy and store it in energy storage batteries (such as lithium iron phosphate batteries, with a capacity of 100-500kWh), and then charge electric vehicles. This mode can achieve "100% green charging" and reduce carbon emissions (approximately 80kg of CO ₂ emissions can be reduced for every 100 degrees of charging).
• Green power trading: Some charging station operators (such as Star Charging) sign direct purchase agreements with wind and photovoltaic power plants, providing users with the option of "green power charging" (users can choose to use renewable energy electricity for charging and obtain green power certification certificates). For example, NIO's "Charging Map" has marked over 1000 green charging stations, covering major cities across the country.
3、Energy Management: Promoting the Energy Consumption Revolution and Carbon Neutrality Goals
The popularization of charging stations is not only the construction of infrastructure, but also the innovation of energy consumption patterns. It promotes the transformation of new energy vehicles from "energy terminals" to "energy nodes" through digital and intelligent technologies, helping the whole society achieve carbon neutrality goals.
3.1 Digitalization of Energy and Precise Measurement
As the terminal equipment of the energy Internet, the digital capability of the charging post provides refined data support for energy management:
• Real time monitoring and analysis: Through IoT technology, charging stations can collect charging data in real time (such as charging amount, charging duration, charging power, battery health status) and upload it to cloud platforms (such as State Grid's "Smart Car Networking Platform"). Operators can optimize the layout of charging piles based on data analysis (such as adding stations according to the charging thermodynamic diagram), predict the charging demand (such as allocating resources in advance during peak periods of holidays), and provide users with personalized services (such as charging reports and battery maintenance suggestions).
• Carbon footprint tracking: Some charging station apps (such as Tesla app, NIO app) can calculate the carbon emissions per charge (based on local grid carbon emission factors), and accumulate the user's carbon reduction emissions (such as "reducing 80kg CO ₂ per 100 degrees of charging"). This visualized data feedback enhances users' environmental awareness and promotes the development of green travel habits.
3.2 Energy cascading utilization and resource cycling
Retired power batteries (usually with a range degradation of less than 80%) can serve as high-quality power sources for low-speed electric vehicles and energy storage stations. Charging stations can participate in the cascading utilization of retired batteries by collaborating with battery recycling companies
• Construction of energy storage power stations: Reorganize retired batteries into energy storage systems (such as energy storage cabinets with a capacity of 100kWh) for peak valley arbitrage (low valley charging, high peak discharging) or emergency backup power supply (such as supplying power to charging stations during power outages) at charging stations. For example, BYD's "Light Storage Charging and Inspection" station built in Shenzhen uses over 1000 retired power batteries as energy storage units.
• Battery health assessment: The charging station can monitor the voltage, current, temperature and other parameters of the battery in real time during the charging process, and upload them to the battery management system (BMS). These data can be used to evaluate the state of health (SOH) of batteries and provide a basis for the graded utilization of retired batteries (such as high SOH batteries for energy storage and low SOH batteries for dismantling and recycling).
3.3 Innovation in Energy Services and Expansion of Business Models
The energy management function of charging stations has given rise to various new business models, promoting the transformation of energy services from "single sales" to "comprehensive operation":
• Charging+Finance: Some operators (such as Star Charging) have launched "charging installment" services (users can apply for installment payment of charging fees through the APP), and have cooperated with insurance companies to launch "charging insurance" (compensation can be obtained if the vehicle is damaged during the charging process).
• Charging+Advertising: Place advertisements on the charging station body and charging app interface (such as new energy vehicle brands and local merchant discounts) to create additional revenue for operators (advertising revenue can account for 10% -20% of total revenue).
• Charging+Energy Management SaaS: Provides customized energy management platforms for customers such as car companies, property management, and parks (such as NIO's "Power Manager" service for car owners), charging software service fees (annual fee model, about 500-2000 yuan/station).
4、Technological Evolution: From Single Device to Smart Energy Node
The technological iteration of charging stations has always revolved around the goal of "more efficient, safer, and smarter", and breakthroughs in its core technology are driving the transition of energy supply for new energy vehicles from "functional implementation" to "experience upgrading".
4.1 Iterative upgrade of charging technology
• Supercharging technology: The popularization of supercharging stations above 350kW (such as Tesla V4 supercharging station with a power of 600kW) shortens the charging time to less than 10 minutes (supplementing the range of 400 kilometers). The key technologies include high-voltage platforms (800V and above), liquid cooled charging guns (reducing wire harness heating), and high rate batteries (supporting high current charging and discharging).
• Wireless charging: "Plug in free charging" is achieved through electromagnetic induction or magnetic resonance technology (such as the BMW 530e iPerformance, which has a wireless charging power of 3.2 kW and can charge up to 15 kilometers per hour). At present, wireless charging is still in the pilot stage (mainly used in fixed scenarios such as parking lots), but it is expected to be combined with autonomous driving in the future to achieve a seamless experience of "automatic parking+automatic charging".
• Battery swapping technology: By replacing the battery pack, "fast energy replenishment" can be achieved (for example, NIO battery swapping stations can complete battery replacement within 3 minutes). The advantage of battery swapping mode lies in shortening the replenishment time and reducing the risk of battery degradation (unified battery management can extend the lifespan by more than 20%), but currently limited by the lack of unified battery standards (large differences in battery size and interface among different car companies), car companies still mainly build their own battery swapping stations (such as NIO, which has built over 2000 battery swapping stations).
4.2 Enhancement of security technology
The safety of charging stations is directly related to the safety of users' lives and property, and their technological upgrades focus on "electrical safety," "battery safety," and "network security
• Electrical safety: Adopting technologies such as leakage protection (automatic power-off when leakage current>30mA is detected), overcurrent protection (automatic cut-off when charging current exceeds the limit), lightning protection design (installation of surge protectors), etc., to reduce the risk of electric shock and fire.
• Battery safety: Real time monitoring of battery temperature, voltage, and SOC (State of Charge) through BMS (Battery Management System), automatically stopping charging in case of abnormal conditions (such as battery overheating); Some charging stations are also equipped with fire extinguishing devices (such as aerosol fire extinguishers), which can quickly extinguish fires in the early stages.
• Network security: using encrypted communication (such as TLS protocol), identity authentication (such as digital certificates) and other technologies to prevent hacker attacks from causing charging piles to lose control (such as maliciously tampering with charging power, stealing user data).
4.3 Intelligence and Interconnection
The charging pile is being upgraded from an "isolated device" to an "energy Internet node". Its intelligent functions include:
• Vehicle pile cloud interconnection: Through communication technologies such as 4G/5G, Bluetooth, Wi Fi, etc., real-time data exchange between charging piles, vehicles, and cloud platforms is achieved (such as charging status inquiry, remote control). For example, the NIO app can remotely start/stop charging and view historical charging records.
• Intelligent scheduling: Operators can centrally manage charging stations through cloud platforms (such as dynamically adjusting electricity prices and allocating charging resources based on load rates), improving equipment utilization (some operators have increased charging station utilization from 30% to over 60% through intelligent scheduling).
• Autonomous driving collaboration: In the future, charging stations will be deeply integrated with autonomous vehicles (such as automatic recognition of charging station positions and automatic insertion and removal of charging guns), achieving "unmanned charging".
5、Social benefits: promoting green travel and energy equity
The popularization of charging stations not only brings user convenience and grid synergy value, but also generates significant social benefits, helping to decarbonize transportation, promote energy accessibility, and promote regional balanced development.
5.1 Core support for decarbonization in the transportation sector
The large-scale application of new energy vehicles is a key path for carbon reduction in the transportation sector. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that if the global penetration rate of new energy vehicles increases to 50% (the 2030 target), it can reduce CO ₂ emissions by over 1 billion tons annually (accounting for more than 30% of total emissions in the transportation sector). The popularization of charging stations has cleared the "energy supply" barrier for the promotion of new energy vehicles. As of 2023, the number of new energy vehicles in China has reached 20.41 million, with a total of over 6 million supporting charging stations (public and private). The vehicle to station ratio has been optimized from 7.8:1 in 2015 to 2.4:1, providing a solid guarantee for the rapid growth of new energy vehicles.
5.2 Energy accessibility and rural revitalization
The construction of charging stations has promoted the extension of energy services to rural and remote areas, narrowing the gap in energy services between urban and rural areas
• Rural charging network coverage: As of 2023, the number of public charging stations in rural areas of China has exceeded 500000 (a tenfold increase from 2020), and some regions (such as Shandong and Henan) have achieved "full coverage of township charging stations". The penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the rural market has increased from less than 1% in 2020 to over 5% in 2023 (mainly used in areas such as ride hailing and logistics vehicles).
• Rural application of photovoltaic+charging: In rural areas with abundant light resources (such as northwest and southwest), some charging piles combine photovoltaic power generation (such as village level photovoltaic power stations+charging piles) to provide villagers with low-cost green electricity (electricity prices are 20% -30% lower than traditional power grids), while promoting the implementation of photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects (such as using photovoltaic income for village collective public welfare).
5.3 Regional Economy and Employment Promotion
The charging pile industry chain (equipment manufacturing, installation and operation, platform operation, etc.) has become a new economic growth point:
• Industry scale: In 2023, the market size of charging piles in China will exceed 100 billion yuan (with equipment manufacturing accounting for 40% and operation services accounting for 30%), and is expected to exceed 200 billion yuan by 2025. In terms of global market, the growth rate of the charging pile market in Europe and the United States has exceeded 20% (the EU plans to build 3 million public charging piles by 2030).
• Employment creation: The installation, operation, and platform operation of charging stations have created a large number of job opportunities, such as charging station installation engineers, operation and maintenance technicians, and APP development engineers. According to estimates, the direct employment in China's charging pile industry has exceeded 500000 people (2023 data), indirectly driving the development of related industries such as power electronics, battery materials, and software development.
