China's EV owners struggle with charging infrastructure
China's prospering electric vehicle (EV) industry is crying out for a centralised solution to the complex infrastructure behind charging stations, with less than half of owners of EVs happy with the current system, according to a report by KPMG. Of the 141,254 public charging stations in China, independent electric vehicle charging expert David Zhang found that only 5% were available for powering EVs in the 32 cities he investigated. Siloed apps and payment systems, as well as varying standards, have added to consumer frustration, while experts have warned it could lead to a greater shift away from plug-in hybrids and battery-powered vehicles.
CHONGQING, China -- It is nearly 9 p.m. on a Sunday at automaker Lifan's production site in the Liangjiang New Area suburb of Chongqing, yet the place is a hive of activity as batteries are loaded into vans. PandAuto, a car-sharing company in which Lifan has invested, operates fleets of electric Lifan 330 cars in several Chinese cities, including Chongqing. These vehicles use swappable batteries, and the site is Chongqing's hub for recharging them.

China's fleet users usually have their own dedicated charging stations. EVCARD, a car sharing company, has chargers at all its pick-up and drop-off stations, and as users typically hire cars for short journeys, worries about vehicle ranges are not a problem. But matters are more complicated for private consumers.