Zhejiang: Charging piles safeguard 'last mile' of rural green travel
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Staff from the State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company arrived at the integrated charging station incorporating photovoltaic power generation, energy storage, and charging in Xiajiang village in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Oct 8 with their toolkits, commencing the day's inspection and power supply assurance work.
With the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles, charging piles in the remote mountainous areas of western Zhejiang have multiplied. The 216 charging piles operated by State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company across 37 charging stations have become essential power supply stations for villagers' daily commutes and tourists' holiday travels. During the National Day holiday, the charging piles experienced peak usage as returning locals drove home for family visits and tourists traveled by car to enjoy the scenery of Qiandao Lake, making the task of ensuring reliable power supply even more urgent.
To guarantee electricity supply for green travel, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company preemptively formulated inspection plans and conducted "carpet-style" checks on charging piles by designated areas. Staff meticulously inspected each charging pile for issues such as the integrity of the grounding device, potential loosening or overheating of lines, and also carefully examined the configured firefighting facilities and the condition of cables to ensure the equipment operates well.
While performing inspections and power assurance duties, the staff also promote safe charging awareness among villagers and tourists using the piles, reminding everyone to park properly and care for the equipment. If they find non-new energy vehicles occupying charging spots, they patiently advise the owners; upon noticing the accumulation of debris around the charging piles, they promptly clear it — making the "power service" warmer and more considerate.
"I was worried about queuing for charging during the holiday and afraid the equipment might malfunction. But I didn't expect to see the power supply masters conducting inspections as soon as I arrived. It's very reassuring!" said tourist Mr Li, who had just charged his car.
[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The seven new charging pile station sites are currently under construction in the remote mountainous areas of western Zhejiang, pushing towards the year-end goal of "coverage in every township". State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company is simultaneously following up on supporting power construction for these new stations to ensure the smooth progression of subsequent equipment installation and debugging.
Moving forward, State Grid Hangzhou Power Supply Company will continuously enhance service quality, optimize the layout of charging facilities, and strengthen the operation and maintenance management of charging piles. This effort aims to provide robust support for the promotion and application of new energy vehicles, thereby fostering the popularization and development of green travel.
