China’s Blueprint for Load Shifting Through Electric Vehicles
China’s central government has revealed its inaugural blueprint aimed at exploring the potential of
load shifting through electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. The goal is to stabilize the power
grid amidst the increasing adoption of battery-powered cars.
Beijing’s Plan for Real-Time, Flexible Electricity Pricing
According to a document dated December 13, publicly released on Thursday by the National Development and
Reform Commission and three other top government departments, Beijing plans to implement real-time,
flexible prices on a large scale nationwide by 2025.
Target for Off-Peak EV Charging and Bi-Directional Charging Facilities
The initiative also anticipates off-peak charging to constitute over 60% of total electricity for EV
charging in at least five pilot cities, primarily in affluent regions such as the Yangtze River Delta area
and the Pearl River Delta area. Additionally, more than 50 large facilities for bi-directional charging
are expected to be operational in those regions by that time, enabling energy storage in a car’s battery
and its return to the power grid.
Forecasted Impact on Power Load by 2030
According to Caixin, citing Pang Xiaogang, a deputy general manager at State Grid, the peak of EV
charging load could reach 100 million kilowatts by 2030, approximately 5% of China’s maximum power load.
[NDRC document,
Caixin, in Chinese]