In the bustling city of Shenzhen, a quiet revolution is unfolding on its streets. New electric vehicles (NEVs) are becoming an integral part of daily life, signaling China’s ambitious stride towards a sustainable future. At the recently upgraded Lianhua Hill Supercharging Station, NEV owners relish the convenience of rapid charging. Where once the station was limited to 60 kilowatts, it now boasts a charging power of up to 600 kilowatts, accommodating up to 46 vehicles simultaneously.
This leap in infrastructure is part of Shenzhen’s broader initiative to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of NEVs. As of October 2024, over a quarter of the city’s vehicles are electric, a figure that is accelerating rapidly. The city’s commitment reflects a nationwide shift towards green transportation.
Across the Chinese mainland, NEV sales have skyrocketed. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that more than 9.5 million NEVs were sold in 2024 alone, marking an impressive 41.2 percent increase compared to the previous year. This surge underscores the growing consumer embrace of electric mobility and the government’s supportive policies.
Complementing the rise of electric vehicles is China’s substantial investment in renewable energy, particularly solar power. Solar energy has surpassed wind and hydroelectric power to become the country’s second-largest power generation source. By the end of October this year, China’s installed solar power capacity reached 793 gigawatts, according to official data.
Much of this capacity is harnessed in the eastern and western regions, where expansive solar farms and distributed solar systems are transforming the energy landscape. “It is expected that the newly installed capacity of solar power generation will be about 250 million kilowatts in 2024,” said Yang Kun, executive vice chairman of the China Electricity Council, in an interview with China Media Group. “The cumulative installed capacity is expected to exceed 850 million kilowatts, accounting for more than a quarter of the total installed capacity in the country.”
These developments highlight China’s strategic focus on sustainable technologies as pivotal drivers of its green transformation. The synergy between the adoption of NEVs and the expansion of solar power not only reduces carbon emissions but also positions China as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change.
Reference(s):
China's 2024 green transformation through sustainable technologies
cgtn.com
