Nanjing, Jiangsu: A new vision for travel revealed in household 'green bills'

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Account managers from State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company visited Mr Wang's home on the morning of Sept 15 to conduct a safety inspection of the new-energy vehicle (NEV) charging pile installed last year. They carefully checked the wiring and leakage protection function, and explained charging precautions.

"Since switching to an electric car, the cost per kilometer is less than 10 cents. Just on fuel costs alone, I save about six to seven hundred yuan ($82-96) a month!" Mr Wang swiped through the charging app on his phone, showing the managers his "household electricity bill" with visible delight.

In Nanjing, more families like the Wangs are changing their travel habits and enjoying economic benefits thanks to NEVs. In recent years, consumption promotion policies from both the central and local governments have effectively driven growth in NEV consumption, also accelerating the operation of the NEV industrial chain — from core components to vehicle manufacturing.

Driven by both policy guidance and market demand, an ecosystem covering the entire NEV industrial chain — including vehicle manufacturing, core components, and charging/battery swap services — has been gradually formed in Nanjing's Lishui district. In 2024, the output value of Lishui's NEV industry exceeded 60 billion yuan. In the first half of the year, vehicle exports reached 460 million yuan, an 84 percent year-on-year increase, with products reaching over one-third of the world's countries and regions, demonstrating strong development momentum.

Behind this rapid industrial chain development, a stable and efficient power supply has become indispensable support. Focusing on corporate electricity needs, State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company has launched a tailored "one enterprise, one policy" service mechanism, providing comprehensive electricity support for businesses of different sizes and stages — from application and connection to energy-saving upgrades. Taking Brembo, a high-end braking system manufacturer, as an example, the power supply company began providing services from the initial factory construction phase in 2017, installing six new transformers to meet production load while reducing the company's electricity costs. In 2023, responding to its capacity expansion needs, they promptly completed an 8,000 kVA capacity upgrade, built two new ring main units, with a total investment of 1.12 million yuan, ensuring the stable and continuous operation of the production line.

Power services not only support enterprise production but also extend to the end-user vehicle experience. To alleviate users' "range anxiety", State Grid Nanjing Power Supply Company is accelerating the integrated layout of charging networks in both urban and rural areas, achieving its "charging pile in every village" goal first in Lishui. To date, Lishui district has built 4,109 public charging piles and 20,921 private charging piles. Drivers can find a charging pile within a quick 5-minute drive from anywhere in the district.

Today, more families are starting to calculate their "green travel bills". Power services are continuously empowering the improvement and upgrading of the NEV industry ecosystem, promoting the steady advancement of the regional economy towards green and low-carbon development.