Xiaogan, Hubei: Ensuring Safe and Orderly Energy Replenishment for New Energy Vehicles During the Holidays

Recently, as traffic flow gradually peaked at the Anlu Service Area on the Fuyin Expressway in Hubei, new energy vehicles parked in an orderly manner beside the charging piles. Liu Yongcheng, an operation and maintenance worker from Yandian Power Supply Station of Anlu Power Supply Company in Xiaogan, Hubei, moved among the charging piles, guiding owners of new energy vehicles in the service area to carry out energy replenishment in an orderly manner.

In recent years, the company has introduced new technologies and improved supporting services. The 24-hour monitoring system conducts real-time monitoring of the status of charging piles, and mobile charging equipment is precisely deployed for energy replenishment. The operation and maintenance work for charging piles has shifted from "manual inspection" to "intelligent precision," and charging efficiency in expressway service areas has achieved a qualitative leap compared with that of more than a decade ago.

During the holidays, to ensure the charging demand of new energy vehicles, State Grid Xiaogan Power Supply Company deployed integrated energy-storage mobile charging equipment to the Anlu Service Area, relying on its online traffic flow monitoring platform. This equipment is equipped with a 175.6 kWh high-capacity battery and can recharge a vehicle to 80% in as little as half an hour. Its flexible deployment and plug-and-charge capability effectively address the problem of "difficulty finding an available charging spot" during holiday peaks.

Mobile charging equipment put into operation at the Anlu Service Area
Photo by He Yao

Today, expressway service areas within Xiaogan have achieved full coverage of charging piles. These service areas have gradually transformed from temporary stopping points into "warm service stations" integrating rest and resupply, green travel, and convenient services.