As the National Day holiday travel rush continues, drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) heading home should be aware of potential charging delays. The Ministry of Transport has identified 30 highway service areas expected to experience particularly high charging demand on October 5th. These busy spots are primarily concentrated in provinces including Hebei, Hunan, and Shanxi.
To help travelers plan their journeys, the Ministry advises using the “e 路畅通” WeChat mini-program to check the real-time operational status of charging stations at these service areas.
Understanding the Holiday Charging Trend
According to the Ministry of Transport’s analysis, the holiday period has seen a significant surge in EV usage, with average daily EV traffic being 1.8 times higher than usual. The charging demand pattern during the holiday can be characterized as dispersed during the departure phase and concentrated during the return trip.
Typically, charging activity begins to increase noticeably at highway service areas around 10 AM. This peak demand gradually subsides after 9 PM, with charging needs decreasing thereafter.
Key Dates and Times for High Charging Demand
The Ministry specifically highlights October 5th and 6th as the core period for return journeys. During these days, a substantial increase in EVs seeking charging facilities is anticipated.
The peak charging hours are predicted as follows:
- October 5th: 11 AM to 9 PM
- October 6th: 10 AM to 10 PM
High-Demand Service Areas on October 5th
The following list details the service areas expected to be exceptionally busy for charging on October 5th:
- Hebei Province, Tangshan City, Tanghai Service Area (G0111) – Tianjin-Shenyang direction
- Hebei Province, Tangshan City, Tanghai Service Area (G0111) – Shenyang-Tianjin direction
- Hebei Province, Tangshan City, Tangshan Service Area (S0105) – Tangshan-Tianjin direction
- Hebei Province, Tangshan City, Leting Service Area (G0111) – Qinhuangdao-Tianjin direction
- Hebei Province, Tangshan City, Leting Service Area (G0111) – Tianjin-Qinhuangdao direction
- Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao City, Changli Service Area (G0111) – Tianjin-Qinhuangdao direction
- Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao City, Funing Service Area (G0111) – Shenyang-Tianjin direction
- Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao City, Funing Service Area (G0111) – Tianjin-Shenyang direction
- Hebei Province, Qinhuangdao City, Changli Service Area (G0111) – Qinhuangdao-Tianjin direction
- Hebei Province, Cangzhou City, Dongguang Service Area (G3) – Taipei-Beijing direction
- Hebei Province, Langfang City, Langfang Service Area (G95) – Zhuozhou-Langfang direction
- Hunan Province, Changsha City, Hengshi Service Area (S71) – Yiyang-Loudi direction
- Hunan Province, Chenzhou City, Guidong Service Area (G0422) – Pingjiang-Rucheng direction
- Hunan Province, Loudi City, Qiaotouhe Service Area (S50) – Loudi-Changsha direction
- Shanxi Province, Jincheng City, Gaoping Service Area (G55) – Guangzhou-Erlianhot direction
- Shanxi Province, Luliang City, Wucheng Service Area (G20) – Qingdao-Yinchuan direction
- Liaoning Province, Shenyang City, Kangping Service Area (G25) – Tieling-Chaoyang direction
- Liaoning Province, Huludao City, Tashan Service Area (G1) – Shenyang-Beijing direction
- Henan Province, Luohe City, Luohe Service Area (G4) – Hong Kong Macau-Beijing direction
- Henan Province, Sanmenxia City, Yu Shan Jie Service Area (G30) – Horgos-Lianyungang direction
- Sichuan Province, Mianyang City, Xin’an Service Area (G5) – Mianyang-Guangyuan direction
- Sichuan Province, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Pusa Gang Service Area (G5) – Xichang-Ya’an direction
- Shaanxi Province, Weinan City, Chengcheng Service Area (G5) – Xi’an-Hancheng direction
- Shaanxi Province, Weinan City, Chengcheng Service Area (G5) – Hancheng-Xi’an direction
- Heilongjiang Province, Suihua City, Anda Service Area (G10) – Harbin-Daqing direction
- Jiangsu Province, Wuxi City, Yixing Taihu Service Area (G25) – Nanjing-Hangzhou direction
- Anhui Province, Bengbu City, Yuhui Service Area (G3) – Hefei-Xuzhou direction
- Guangdong Province, Shaoguan City, Chenkou Parking Area (G0422) – Wuhan-Shenzhen direction
- Gansu Province, Jiuquan City, Jiuquan Service Area (G30) – Xinjiang-Lanzhou direction
- Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wuzhong City, Ma’erzhuang Service Area (G2012) – Zhongwei-Yanchi direction
Motorists are advised to check charging availability before heading out and consider alternative charging plans if necessary to ensure a smooth return journey.
