CCP Media Exposes Unresolved 'Charging Anxiety' During Long Holiday

Illustration: Chinese-made electric vehicles flooding the European market.(video screenshot)

[People News] During the 'Eleventh' long holiday, electric vehicle owners in mainland China faced significant charging challenges at highway service areas, with hours of waiting in line becoming commonplace. Even after finally reaching the charging station, many could only charge their vehicles to 80%, leading to frustration among travelers. In light of numerous complaints, the CCP's media outlet, Xinhua News Agency, felt compelled to intervene and attempted to downplay the situation by falsely claiming that 'range anxiety' had 'significantly dissipated.' However, the following day, they released a lengthy list of service areas to avoid, inadvertently highlighting the reality that the 'charging anxiety' during the long holiday remains unresolved.

Xinhua News Agency's Inopportune Praise

On October 4, Xinhua News Agency published an article titled 'Electric Vehicle Travel Faces Charging Challenges During the Holiday, How to Address Energy Supplement Anxiety,' which noted that the recent queues for charging at highway service areas for new energy vehicles have reignited widespread public concern regarding the 'energy supplement issue.'

Throughout the 'Eleventh' long holiday, many electric vehicle drivers experienced a 'charging shortage,' forced to wait in line at service areas for charging. The lengthy waits transformed many families' anticipated vacations into nightmares due to 'charging anxiety.' As public discontent surged, Xinhua News Agency ultimately could not ignore this pressing issue, yet still attempted to downplay it while seeking to offer praise.

The article reports that from October 1 to 3, a statistical analysis was conducted on 62,700 highway charging facilities, resulting in a total of 2,968,600 charging sessions for new energy vehicles on national highways. The total charging volume reached 71,619,300 kilowatt-hours, averaging 23,873,100 kilowatt-hours per day, which marks a 49.39% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, on October 1, the charging volume hit 28,046,900 kilowatt-hours, reflecting a 60.4% increase from last year, setting a new record for a single day during the holiday.

The topic of "charging anxiety," which has garnered significant public attention, has been framed as "good news" in the Xinhua News Agency's article. It claims that the number of new energy vehicles in the country has reached 48.97 million, accounting for 13.19% of the total vehicle count. The article also mentions that the average range of pure electric passenger cars exceeds 500 kilometers, with some models capable of exceeding 1,000 kilometers. With advancements in ultra-fast charging technology, the article asserts that "range anxiety" has been "significantly alleviated."

However, many car owners are still grappling with the frustration of being unable to charge their vehicles, while Xinhua insists that "range anxiety" has been "significantly alleviated," completely ignoring the reality and the sentiments of drivers.

The Chinese Communist Party's media finds it challenging to strike a balance.

According to Xinhua's article, the total number of electric vehicle charging stations in the country has surpassed 24 million, establishing the world's largest electric vehicle charging network. Approximately 89,000 charging facilities have been constructed in highway service areas. Thanks to the ongoing improvement of the charging support system, despite the surge in demand for electric vehicle travel during this year's holiday, the overall charging pressure has "significantly eased" compared to previous years.

Xinhua News Agency, with its eyes wide open, is spreading misinformation, even going so far as to claim on behalf of car owners that, 'It feels like there are more charging stations in service areas, with operational maintenance assured, making electric vehicle travel more secure,' and 'There are plenty of fast charging stations, and the charging efficiency is quite high.'

According to Xinhua, it appears that there is no 'charging anxiety' during this year's holiday, and it almost suggests that car owners should thank the 'Party' for its leadership. The article also commends various local departments for 'preparing in advance and being fully ready' to handle the concentrated electricity demand during peak times. Only in the latter part of the article does it acknowledge that the 'tide' issue of holiday charging remains an unavoidable reality, with netizens expressing frustration over 'long queues for charging in service areas and excessive waiting times,' and noting that some popular highway service areas encourage car owners to charge to 80% during peak hours to free up parking spots.

After singing praises, Xinhua ultimately has to concede that 'charging anxiety' is an 'unavoidable reality'; however, it defends that 'charging to 80% will not harm the battery,' which can 'ease the pressure of charging queues.' The article also recommends 'off-peak charging, trying to avoid peak charging times during the day, and opting to charge at night or early in the morning.'

Xinhua downplays the nightmares and anxieties faced by car owners; at the same time, it paints an optimistic picture, claiming that by 2030, the total number of charging stations will exceed 40 million, making green travel more 'carefree and worry-free.'

The experiences of car owners are lightly brushed aside by Xinhua; however, many who have experienced it firsthand are unlikely to accept such claims. Unexpectedly, the following day, Xinhua contradicted itself.

The Communist Party acknowledges that 'charging anxiety' has no solution.

On October 5, Xinhua News Agency published an article titled 'Ministry of Transport: On October 6, 79 service areas are expected to experience high demand for charging.' The article indicated that on October 6, 79 service areas nationwide are anticipated to be particularly busy with charging, primarily located in provinces such as Hunan, Hebei, and Guangdong. A list was provided, advising travelers to stay informed and plan their journeys accordingly.

This essentially warns electric vehicle drivers to avoid these 79 service areas, as they are likely to be unable to access charging services. Xinhua has effectively contradicted the justification article it released just a day earlier.

The 'inescapable reality' is that at least 79 service areas are unlikely to meet the charging demand, and the Communist Party is indirectly advising car owners to steer clear of these regions. It is evident that 'range anxiety' has not only failed to be 'significantly alleviated,' but has instead become an unsolvable issue.

On the same day, Xinhua also published an article titled 'Ministry of Transport: On October 6, 44 highway sections are prone to congestion,' which stated that on October 6, there are 44 highway sections across the country that are likely to experience congestion, mainly in provinces such as Jiangsu, Guangdong, Hunan, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Shaanxi. A list was provided, and travelers were advised to avoid heavily trafficked and congested routes whenever possible.

These two notification-style articles effectively inform many car owners to refrain from traveling to these areas or to cancel their travel plans altogether. Just a day prior, Xinhua was attempting to promote a positive narrative, but a day later, it issued such a discouraging notification.

On October 5, Xinhua News Agency released an article titled 'On October 4, the inter-regional flow of people in society increased by 1.3% year-on-year', which reported that the inter-regional flow of people on October 4 rose by 1.3% compared to the previous year. It also noted that the flow from October 1 to 4 was essentially unchanged from the same period last year.

This means that the total number of trips taken during the long holiday was roughly equivalent to last year, yet the charging challenges faced by car owners have suddenly intensified. The solution suggested by Xinhua is essentially to avoid going out, completely ignoring the so-called 'holiday economy'.

The 'holiday economy' is on the brink of failure.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has rigidly scheduled several so-called 'long holidays' each year and strongly encourages people to travel and spend during these periods, continuously boasting about the so-called 'holiday economy'.

However, by synchronizing the holiday schedules for the entire population of mainland China and promoting simultaneous travel, the CCP is effectively forcing more people to compete for limited resources.

The challenges extend beyond electric vehicle charging; all forms of travel are facing difficulties. Tourist attractions are overcrowded, resulting in poor experiences, while hotels, restaurants, and shops struggle to manage large crowds. Alongside rising prices, the quality of service is inevitably compromised. This hastily implemented 'holiday economy' is a distorted outcome of CCP governance.

In most countries around the world, people organize their annual vacations according to their own schedules, leading to staggered travel times except for a few short fixed holidays. As a result, most travelers enjoy pleasant experiences, and while the tourism economy does exhibit seasonal variations, it remains within a normal cycle that ensures high-quality service. In stark contrast, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) insists on artificially creating a 'holiday economy,' which disrupts the normal order of people's lives and contradicts economic principles.

The ideas of 'long holidays' and 'holiday economy,' along with the ensuing 'recharging anxiety,' represent another aspect of the CCP's alternative governance model. It is only after the disintegration of the CCP that the Chinese populace can return to a traditional and normal lifestyle, allowing for natural resolutions to similar man-made disasters.

--The Dajiyuan
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