While traditional travel methods remain popular during the Spring Festival holiday, some families are exploring the flexibility offered by electric vehicles (EVs) for long-distance road trips. Ms. Wang and her family recently completed a 2,942-kilometer round-trip journey, starting and ending in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Over 11 days, the family of three traveled through seven cities, including Fuzhou, Ganzhou and Guangzhou, before returning home. This journey highlights how new energy vehicles (NEVs) are becoming a practical choice for holiday excursions. According to a report by Jiupai News, their total expenditure for the 2,942-kilometer loop was approximately 7,000 to 8,000 yuan (about $1013 to $1158).

A blend of modern travel and quality time

The journey was a mix of standard tourism and spontaneous experiences. While the family primarily stayed in hotels, they spent two nights resting inside their vehicle during stops in Huizhou and Shantou. This approach allowed them to stay close to scenic areas and experience the trip at their own pace – without the immediate need for hotel check-ins.

"In the quiet, enclosed space of the car, we found rare quality time to communicate," Ms. Wang shared. Instead of fixing their eyes on mobile devices, the family used the time on the road for conversation and school-related reading, viewing the EV not just as transport, but as a private space for bonding.

Other travelers, like Ms. Zhao from Suzhou, have adopted similar styles. Traveling solo to Jiangxi, she found security in the growing network of service areas and monitored parking lots, charging her vehicle whenever the battery reached 40 percent to 50 percent to ensure a smooth journey.

Energy infrastructure and confidence

A key factor in the feasibility of such a long journey is the growing confidence in energy infrastructure. One of the primary historical barriers to long-distance EV travel – range anxiety – is steadily declining.

Ms. Wang's family utilized a model with battery-swapping capabilities, ensuring they weren't solely dependent on charging stations. By planning stops at service areas with swapping facilities, they managed their energy levels effectively throughout the nearly 3,000-kilometer loop.

Ms. Wang mentioned that even when the battery level was low, the vehicle could still travel several kilometers, which significantly reduced any potential anxiety regarding range.

Bolstering this confidence is the significant expansion of the national charging network. According to data released by the National Energy Administration on January 21, China's charging infrastructure reached a significant milestone by the end of December 2025. The total number of charging points nationwide reached 20.092 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 49.7 percent.

The evolving NEV market

The experiences of these travelers are mirrored by a growth in the domestic automotive sector. According to January data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, both production and sales in China's auto market reached record highs in 2025, exceeding 34 million units. Within this, NEV production and sales both surpassed 16 million units, with NEVs accounting for over 50 percent of all domestic new car sales.

While adoption remains high in major hubs, the potential for future growth is shifting. Lang Xuehong, deputy secretary general of the China Automobile Dealers Association, noted that NEV penetration in cities above Tier-3 has reached approximately 40 percent, with Tier-1 cities like Shenzhen exceeding 50 percent.

As penetration growth begins to stabilize in these major metropolises, Lang points out that cities below Tier-3 currently sit at around 20 percent penetration. This suggests a significant margin for growth in smaller cities and rural areas, supported by the ongoing expansion of charging networks into townships across provinces like Shandong and Guangdong.

As these networks expand, long-distance EV travel is shifting from a challenge to a viable alternative for more people. While traditional travel remains the standard for many, the experiences of travelers like Ms. Wang suggest that the infrastructure is now in place to support different choices. For the consumer, this offers a new choice: to stay with proven travel methods, or to explore the emerging possibilities of the road in an electric age.