As of the end of June, China has over 24 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, with pure electric cars accounting for more than 18 million of that figure, making up around 70% of the total. Enhancing the charging experience for EV owners is a critical challenge for the rapidly advancing new energy vehicle industry. In Guangdong, Shenzhen—a city known for its innovation—has set an ambitious goal to become a “Super Charging City,” exploring various avenues such as infrastructure development, technological innovation, and industry planning.
On his way home, Mr. Yin, an EV owner in Shenzhen, decided to stop by a supercharging station located just two kilometers from his workplace. These stations, identifiable by their standard purple signage, are becoming ubiquitous throughout the city. As of October 18, Shenzhen has built a total of 671 supercharging stations, with the number of chargers already surpassing that of traditional gas stations.
A year ago, the city accelerated its efforts to develop into a “Super Charging City.” How has the situation evolved for EV owners today? Our reporters visited supercharging stations, battery manufacturers, and charging pile enterprises to get answers.
“Charging here feels as quick as refueling,” Mr. Yin said as he plugged in his vehicle and scanned a QR code, watching the battery percentage rise rapidly on the car’s screen. “I charge my car every two weeks, and it only takes about 20 minutes to get nearly 500 kilometers of range, which suits my commuting and weekend travel needs perfectly.” His vehicle, equipped with a 100 kWh battery, takes a little over an hour to charge fully at an 80 kW fast-charging station, while a slower 7 kW station would require an entire night. “In terms of time saved, the supercharging has made a significant difference for me.”
Charging stations are classified into slow, fast, and supercharging categories based on their charging speeds. While slow chargers use alternating current (AC), fast and superchargers rely on high-voltage direct current (DC) technology for rapid energy replenishment. In Shenzhen, supercharging equipment has a rated output of no less than 480 kW, achieving astonishing speeds of “one kilometer per second” in charging.
In September 2023, Shenzhen issued a comprehensive plan for the high-quality construction of new energy vehicle charging facilities from 2023 to 2025, adhering to a strategic framework that focuses on “unified planning, standards, platforms, and signage” to develop a world-class “Super Charging City.”
The development of supercharging stations is expanding rapidly across Shenzhen. Mr. Yin’s district, Longgang, has already established 113 supercharging stations as of October 18 this year. With the full electrification of buses and taxis, the number of new energy vehicles in Shenzhen has climbed to 1.162 million, representing over a quarter of the city’s total vehicle count, with 75 out of every 100 cars sold being new energy vehicles.
Finding charging stations has become much simpler in Shenzhen, yet many consumers still worry about slow charging speeds. Addressing what some refer to as “range anxiety” requires both substantial charging infrastructure and batteries that can handle the demand.
He Xuan, General Manager of the battery product line at Sunwoda, explained, “To enhance charging speeds, we need to optimize the chemical systems to boost performance while maintaining safety and longevity. We also rely on innovative structural designs to manage heat and enhance electronic conduction efficiency, along with advanced application strategies, including adaptive charging methods and full lifecycle redundancy optimization.”
In 2019, Sunwoda recognized market demands and began focusing on supercharging technology. The company has since partnered with automotive manufacturers like Xpeng, Geely, and Li Auto. Their “Fast Charge Battery” version 1.0 is already in mass production, allowing vehicles to recharge to 80% in just 10 minutes. “Our two latest fast-charge batteries will begin production soon, pushing even further in terms of charging capacity and vehicle range,” said He.
However, during our visits to various charging stations in Shenzhen, it became evident that the number of vehicles supporting supercharging is still limited. Industry insiders noted that while supercharging technology is relatively new and primarily found in mid to high-end vehicles priced above 250,000 yuan, public supercharger installations have lagged due to market development timelines. Most existing models still rely on slow or fast charging, even though supercharging is clearly the future direction of the industry.
According to a representative from Shenzhen’s Development and Reform Commission, over 40 high-end supercharged vehicles were launched in June 2023 alone, with numbers expected to exceed 140 by May 2024. Projections suggest that by the end of 2026, the market for high-voltage fast-charging vehicles could surpass 13 million.
In the evening, the supercharging station at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center was full of EVs, featuring two single-gun supercharging piles and five dual-gun fast charging piles. In its first year of operation, this station has provided charging services to over 100 vehicles daily.
A supercharging pile that previously could charge only one car in one hour can now charge three cars simultaneously—thanks to its higher efficiency, which significantly boosts the station’s capacity, minimizing the need for parking space.
The technical requirements for supercharging stations exceed those of standard chargers. “Simply raising charging power isn’t the only challenge. Faster charging generates excessive heat, which must be managed effectively,” explained Wang Zhiwu, President of Huawei’s Intelligent Charging Network Division. Rather than relying on traditional air-cooling methods, they implemented an all-liquid cooling system that enables effective heat dissipation for components like charging cables and guns, improving cooling efficiency by 30 times, while also reducing noise and extending equipment lifespan.
Shenzhen is advancing its supercharging network through both upgrading existing stations and expanding new ones. For instance, the Convention and Exhibition Center supercharging station was transformed from a standard charging station.
How do they achieve faster charging while maintaining the same power capacity of the original station? “Generally speaking, there are fewer chargers due to the higher power level of supercharging,” Wang explained. “Not every user is charging a supercharging-capable vehicle simultaneously, and power needs vary during different charging stages. Thus, it’s rare to encounter a situation where every parking spot is occupied with all vehicles demanding maximum power. During peak hours, our energy management systems can dynamically allocate power based on user demands and supply capacity, maximizing power sharing.”
The Shenkang Charging Station, operated by Shenzhen Bus Group, is the city’s first smart integrated charging station, combining photovoltaic panels, energy storage, supercharging, and vehicle-grid interaction. This supercharging area can store 200 kWh of electricity in its battery cabinets for charging during off-peak periods and drawing power during peak times. Additionally, the 30 kW photovoltaic panels can reduce the burden on the grid by generating solar energy.
Pan Zhipeng, head of charging operations at Shenzhen Bus New Energy Co., noted that the group has established 108 supercharging stations; among these, 84 incorporate vehicle-grid interaction features, allowing EVs to act as “mobile power banks” that can discharge back into the grid during high-demand periods.
“Leveraging our energy management system, the station can unify and intelligently manage photovoltaic, energy storage, and vehicle charging and discharging functions based on real-time data such as weather conditions and electricity prices, effectively forming localized microgrids and virtual power plants,” said Feng Zhimin, Product Director at Shenzhen Yingfeiyuan Technology Co.
Many owners are asking, “Can I use a standard EV at a supercharging station?” According to available information, Shenzhen’s supercharging stations follow a combined “supercharging + fast charging” model, allowing supercharging piles to adapt their output based on the vehicle’s power needs. Huawei’s digital energy technology expert Xiu Yuxuan clarified that supercharging facilities adjust their output to match battery requirements instead of forcing power. For example, when charging a vehicle that requires 180 kW, the supercharging output is automatically reduced to that level.
The supercharging technology, which maximizes time efficiency, along with digital energy techniques that effectively manage power distribution, presents a viable solution for space-constrained megacities. With easy access, speedy service, and an enhanced user experience, the vision of “charging as convenient as refueling” is quickly becoming a reality.
Shenzhen plans to develop a supercharging network focusing on transportation hubs, shopping parks, and service areas that effectively matches supply and demand while employing cutting-edge technology. By the end of this year, the city aims to establish 1,000 supercharging stations, creating a “charging zone” within 600 meters.
Through standardized construction and regulated development, ride-hailing driver Mr. Xiong effortlessly opens the “i Shenzhen” app on his phone, easily locating charging stations, navigating to them, and initiating the charging process, all with a click. “Where can I find nearby charging stations? How much is it? What’s the distance? Are there many chargers available? It’s all right there!”
Historically, drivers faced challenges with different operators using various apps that required repeated registration and top-ups. To alleviate this, Shenzhen has introduced a centralized system for EV owners, offering services like “find charger” and “one-click charging.”
Behind this initiative is a unified power charging and storage management network, backed by a citywide, self-sustained, precisely modeled information platform. Previously scattered electric charging and storage resources have now been integrated, creating a more efficient and intelligent management system for public services and smart government oversight.
The construction of a “Super Charging City” is not limited to just building more stations or chargers; it encompasses a comprehensive approach that includes creating scenarios, refining plans, establishing standards, fostering innovation, and building an ecosystem to fast-track a unified, open, competitive, and moderately centralized infrastructure market.
As one of China’s earliest cities to embrace new energy industries, Shenzhen boasts a robust industrial ecosystem, hosting 24,000 companies in the new energy and digital energy sectors, intricately linked in a cohesive chain. The market share for charging equipment in the country exceeds 50%, and over 70% in charging module components.
“Our role is to effectively guide government planning, motivate corporate participation, and encourage innovative business models,” stated a representative from Shenzhen’s Development and Reform Commission. With diverse players in the supercharging market and an array of products, there is a pressing need for a robust policy framework and local standards to promote the development of the supercharging sector.
To this end, Shenzhen has drafted a specialized plan for new energy vehicle supercharging facilities and guidelines for managing charging and battery swapping infrastructure, outlining a “roadmap” for high-quality development. As of April 1, new local standards for evaluating supercharging equipment and design were implemented, along with specific requirements for the siting and layout of public charging stations as well as the quality of electric power supplied. Additional local standards addressing long-term failures in charging equipment and evaluative criteria for both centralized and decentralized charging stations are also forthcoming.
