Photo: Courtesy of Shandong Rizhao Power Supply Company

"Two years ago, I switched to an electric vehicle to reduce fuel costs. At first, finding an available charging post was a constant struggle--either they were nonexistent or already occupied. It was very inconvenient. However, thanks to the '5-minute charging circle,' now, I can find an available charging post within five minutes of driving, which is incredibly convenient for us online ride-hailing drivers," said Mr. Zhang, a DiDi driver living in Donggang district, Rizhao city in East China's Shandong Province, sharing his experience on September 20 at a public charging post located in a sports park.

Given the current surge in electric vehicle sales and the rapid development of the charging and battery swapping market, green mobility has attracted great attention. It is on this basis that Shandong Rizhao Power Supply Company (the company) has proactively enhanced the development of charging infrastructure, establishing a "5-minute charging circle" within Rizhao's central urban area to offer high-quality, efficient, and convenient charging services for new-energy vehicle (NEV) owners. The purpose of this effort is to achieve a win-win and science-based deployment, the company has increased the density of charging points. Currently, there are 60 charging stations and 254 charging posts in the central urban area with the charging radius reduced to just 2 kilometers. Simultaneously, the company has been collaborating with local entities such as Sinopec and municipal bus companies to construct 16 additional charging facilities. This concerted approach aims to maximize the potential of building and operating charging infrastructure in parking areas of various property types, and to address residents' charging challenges, creating a mutually beneficial situation. Intelligent technologies enable the development of charging infrastructure. The company has developed an "all-in-one" solution, integrating multiple energy service forms including charging stations, substations, and energy trusts. This approach not only facilitates energy sharing and cooperation but also expands the application of "power supply + energy efficiency services." Moreover, the company has embarked on smart upgrades of charging stations and developed a lock system that enables the charging spots to automatically identify NEVs. This system can effectively prevent fossil fuel vehicles from occupying NEV charging spots and save time for car owners, along with a better charging experience. Significantly, it has won a prestigious ICQCC Prime Gold Award.

Photo: Courtesy of Shandong Rizhao Power Supply Company

Since the start of this year, Rizhao has been experiencing a surging demand for electric vehicle charging. The average daily charging capacity in the central urban area has reached 34,000 kilowatt-hours, up 46.9% year-on-year. Both the expansion in charging capacity and the utilization rate of charging posts rank among the highest in the province. Moving forward, the company is committed to furthering the development of new-energy infrastructure in support of achieving the carbon emissions peak and carbon neutrality goals. Continued efforts will be made to enhance the strategic deployment of public charging facilities that better cater to the residents' requirements for high-quality and diversified mobility services.