Are there free ev charging stations?
Are there free ev charging stations?
Yes, there are free electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The central idea is that some cities offer free charging to promote EV adoption, and some businesses provide free charging to attract customers. Here are the specific details:
City Free Charging Policies: In 2024, ten cities, including Shenzhen, Hangzhou, and Chengdu, launched a “zero service fee” charging policy. Specifically, in Shenzhen, all 12,000 public charging piles waive the service fee during off-peak hours (23:00-7:00), but a fee of 1 yuan per minute is charged if the vehicle is not unplugged after charging is complete. In Hangzhou, charging is completely free from 00:00 to 7:00 daily, and the service fee is half price during other times. In Chengdu, free charging is exclusively for new energy taxis and ride-hailing vehicles, but they must be linked to the operational platform. In Wuhan, the first 200 kWh of electricity per month is free of service fees, and any excess is charged at half price; the free quota also includes charging losses. In Xi’an, charging piles in government agencies and public parking lots have lifelong free service fees. In Suzhou, through cooperation with automakers, BYD and Tesla owners enjoy lifelong free service fees. In Xiamen, if the monthly charging volume reaches 1,000 kWh, all service fees are refunded the following month. In Qingdao, the “Early Bird” program waives service fees for those who finish charging before 7:00. In Changsha, users who bind the city app can enter a lottery, and winners get one year of free service fees; however, if charging is less than 100 kWh for two consecutive months, previously waived fees must be paid back. In Nanning, free charging is exclusively for specific professional groups such as veterans and teachers.
Automaker Free Charging Partnerships: With 800 kWh of free electricity per month that can be used at State Grid, Teld, and Star Charge charging piles, the Voyah FREE pure electric city edition model provides lifetime free charging benefits. GAC Hyperion is offering 2,000 kWh of lifetime free charging for customers who order the Hyperion HL/HT/GT before April 30. Additionally, Hyperion and NIO have teamed up to share almost 15,000 charging piles across more than 180 cities in the country. There are also free destination charging stations for Tesla owners across the country, like those at the Park Hyatt and W Hotel in Suzhou.
Venue Free Charging:To draw clients, some shopping centers and lodging facilities provide free charging. For instance, the Jingdezhen Taobocheng Trading Center’s South Gate 6 fast-charging station, which is open daily from 9:00 to 18:30, provides 30 yuan of free charging per person. Every Thursday, six charging stations in Nanchang—including the Gaoqin Tianquan Shuichong Station and the Nanchang County Museum Charging Station—offer free charging all day. During the week, there are no service fees.
As of August 2025, there are several free or limited-time free EV charging stations in China, mainly distributed in the following areas:
Limited-Time Free Activities:
- Tonglu: During the “Citizens’ Day” on May 5, 2025, Tonglu Changtong New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. provided 108 free charging piles in seven parking lots (including scenic spots, communities, and stations).
- Beijing: Four Teld charging stations (such as Penglong Building and Fengtai Jimei Home) offer free charging during specific periods.
Long-Term Free Stations:
- Brandenburg: The world’s largest free charging station built by Tesla, capable of charging 550 vehicles simultaneously.
- Leipzig: The Porsche Turbo Charging Station factory’s south parking lot offers over 500 free charging piles.
Other Free Resources:
- Zhuhai: The Zhongyou Miyun Guoo Liquid-Cooled Super Charging Station and the Economic Development Zone Third Parking Lot are free and open.
It is recommended to check the latest free activity information through local government or operator official channels, as policies may vary by region.
