China’s EV Charging Network Hits 21.96M, Surging 47.4% YoY

China’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure has reached a new milestone, with total installations hitting 21.955 million units by the end of April 2026 — a 47.4% year-on-year increase, according to data released by the National Energy Administration. The expansion underscores Beijing’s push to build the world’s largest EV charging network as it supports a fleet of over 40 million new energy vehicles (NEVs).

Record Growth in Public and Private Charging

The NEA data reveals a clear split in growth patterns. Public charging facilities reached 4.907 million units, up 29.6% year-on-year, with total rated power capacity of 237 million kW and an average power output of approximately 48.38 kW per unit. Private charging facilities, however, grew far more rapidly — hitting 17.048 million units, a 53.5% surge, with total installed capacity of 149 million kVA.

Private chargers now account for roughly 77.7% of all charging points, reflecting a sharp uptick in home charger installations as EV ownership becomes more mainstream. As IT Home reported, China has now built the world’s largest EV charging network, supporting the charging needs of over 40 million NEVs.

Building on Strong Momentum

The April figures build on already impressive growth from the first quarter. As of the end of March 2026, total charging infrastructure stood at 21.481 million units, up 46.9% year-on-year, Deputy Director of the Electric Power Department Liu Mingyang announced at the NEA’s Q1 2026 press conference. The sequential increase of nearly half a million units in a single month demonstrates the accelerating pace of deployment.

Demand for charging surged during the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, with highway charging sessions reaching a record 6.021 million and total energy delivered hitting 149,767,500 kWh — a daily average of 16,640,800 kWh, according to Liu Mingyang.

The Three-Year Doubling Plan

These figures put China firmly on track to meet the ambitious targets of the “Three-Year Doubling” Action Plan (2025–2027), issued by six central government departments on September 24, 2025. The plan, spearheaded by the National Development and Reform Commission, aims to build 28 million charging facilities by the end of 2027, providing over 300 million kW of public charging capacity to serve more than 80 million EVs. The initiative is expected to drive investment of over 200 billion yuan (approximately $27.6 billion).

With 21.96 million facilities already in place by April 2026, China needs to add approximately 6 million more units over roughly 20 months — a pace of about 300,000 per month — to hit the 2027 target.

Implications for the EV Ecosystem

The rapid expansion of charging infrastructure is critical to addressing “range anxiety,” one of the last major barriers to mass EV adoption. The boom in private charging — growing at nearly double the rate of public infrastructure — suggests that home charging solutions are becoming increasingly accessible and affordable for Chinese consumers.

Meanwhile, the public charging network is maturing in quality as well as quantity. The average power output of 48.38 kW per public charger indicates a shift toward faster charging technology, which reduces wait times and improves the user experience for drivers who rely on public infrastructure.

The NEA is also actively planning for emerging segments, including electric heavy-duty truck charging, which it describes as experiencing “explosive growth.” Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot programs are expanding, with the government exploring bidirectional charging to integrate EVs into the power grid.

What to Watch

As China continues its rapid EV transition, several key questions remain. Grid capacity to handle the additional load from 80 million-plus EVs by 2027 is an active area of study for the NEA. Rural charging coverage — where EV adoption remains lower — will be another critical test of the plan’s success. And the economics of public charging, where many operators still struggle with profitability, will need to improve to sustain long-term investment.

For now, the data paints a clear picture: China’s charging infrastructure build-out is not just keeping pace with its EV revolution — it is helping to lead it.