Ningbo included in national electrification program

Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang province has been selected as one of the first 15 cities in China to pilot the full electrification of vehicles used in public transportation. This selection can be credited to the city's robust automotive manufacturing industry, widespread adoption of electric vehicles, and well-established charging infrastructure. 

Ningbo is known for its thriving automotive industry, which hosts major complete vehicle enterprises such as Geely and SAIC Volkswagen. In fact, last year, Ningbo's automobile manufacturing industry contributed 46.7 percent to Zhejiang's total industrial output value.

The city is also at the forefront of efforts to promote new energy vehicles in China. As of last September, the number of new energy vehicles in Ningbo had exceeded 270,000. In a significant milestone, the number of new energy vehicles registered in Ningbo surpassed that of traditional fuel vehicles in the first quarter of this year. Moreover, by the end of last year, 20,000 new energy vehicles had been introduced into the city's public transport system.

In addition, Ningbo boasts a comprehensive network of charging stations along highway service areas and provides full coverage of public charging infrastructure in areas at the town-level or above. Currently, there are 186 registered operators on the government-led supervision platform, operating 2,785 charging stations, 23,500 charging piles, and 29,300 charging guns. The charging volume is expected to exceed 500 million kilowatt-hours for the first time in 2023.

To facilitate the electrification of public transportation, State Grid Ningbo Power Supply Co has collaborated with public transportation companies in all eight districts and counties of the city to establish 95 dedicated charging stations for buses. These stations cater to a fleet of 2,300 electric buses, with an annual charging volume of nearly 100 million kWh.

An official from the Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology stated that the city's participation in the pilot program will not only contribute to advancements in electrification technology across the automotive industry but also unlock immense market potential.