Rammed roads

The Ministry of Transport projects some 7.2 billion journeys will be made by self-driving trips during the travel rush, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the expected 9 billion total trips during the 40-day period.

"Every holiday, finding charging stations and dealing with range anxiety are common concerns for travelers," said Li Yang, vice-minister of transport, at a news conference in December ahead of the travel rush. "To address this, we're actively enhancing infrastructure and deploying solutions to ensure a smoother journey for everyone."

However, during peak travel times, some regions still experience charging shortages. To mitigate this, the ministry has introduced mobile charging stations and optimized the distribution of existing infrastructure based on demand forecasts. Travelers can also check for available charging stations through various apps and on-site displays.

The ministry has implemented various measures to enhance the efficiency of charging for EV users during busy travel periods.

"The ministry has been guiding local authorities to expedite building charging infrastructure along highways while establishing a management mechanism for busy charging areas at highway service areas during major holidays to meet the escalating demand for EV charging," said Gao Bo, deputy director of the transport service department at the Ministry of Transport during a news conference last month.

"With the exception of a few high-altitude service areas, almost all expressway service areas in China have built charging infrastructure," he added.

During the travel rush, the ministry has expedited the deployment of fast-charging and high-power facilities, with fast-charging facilities extensively deployed at highway service areas. Provinces such as Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong have adopted ultrafast charging stations to cater to the demand for rapid charging. Additionally, mobile charging devices have been introduced in high-demand service areas to provide flexible charging services.

"During Spring Festival, we have intensified congestion management on highways, implementing tailored measures to alleviate traffic congestion at congested sections. This has led to a marked enhancement in the efficiency of highway travel nationwide, resulting in a reduction in severe congestion," Gao said.

The expanded charging infrastructure has alleviated the typical stress associated with long-distance travel for numerous EV owners. "I no longer experience 'charging anxiety'," Wang said, echoing the sentiment shared by countless other travelers benefitting from enhanced access to charging points.