China steps up efforts to build car-charging poles

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China is pushing forward building charging poles and thereby fostering its new energy car sector, China Daily reported Monday, citing officials.

Wang Menghui, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said at the annual EV100 Forum in early January that charging facilities should be taken as part of important infrastructure in urban areas.

"Together with relevant departments, we will speed up efforts to draft supportive policies and stimulating mechanisms to fulfill and improve planning about charging infrastructure," Wang said.

The details about this year's plan have not been released, but Dong Yang, President of the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance, said local authorities have been told to stimulate the charging infrastructure.

China is the world's largest new energy vehicle market, with sales soaring 61.7 percent year-on-year to a total of 1.25 million units last year amid a sluggish overall car market.

The country is also home to the largest charging network for new energy vehicles and 600,000 charging poles are expected to be built this year, with 80 percent for private use.

By the end of 2019, the total number of charging poles available in the country will reach 1.4 million, according to the China Daily.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency