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China’s urban EV ultra-fast charging distorts regulated price signals and elevates risk to grid stability

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Yu

    (Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School)

  • Pengjun Zhao

    (Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
    Peking University)

  • Jiaxing Li

    (Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School)

  • Han Wang

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Jie Yan

    (North China Electric Power University)

  • Haoran Zhang

    (Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School)

Abstract

The wide adoption of electric vehicles is driving the rapid deployment of ultra-fast charging stations, particularly in China. This study uses simulations based on extensive real-world charging data from major Chinese cities and finds that deploying 2000 ultra-fast charging stations in a city may increase the peak-to-valley differences of the public charging load by up to 31.61% daily relative to baseline cases. While integrating energy storage systems can help smooth short-term load volatility, it may simultaneously exacerbate short-term demand surges, particularly during the transition from high- to low-price periods. Under an unregulated scenario, large-scale deployment of ultra-fast charging stations with energy storage could raise peak loads by over 70−85% by 2030 and multiply them by up to 7.5 times by 2050. These findings underscore that a comprehensive rethinking of grid management strategies and market frameworks will be essential to ensure urban energy resilience in an era of rapid electric vehicle expansion.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Yu & Pengjun Zhao & Jiaxing Li & Han Wang & Jie Yan & Haoran Zhang, 2025. "China’s urban EV ultra-fast charging distorts regulated price signals and elevates risk to grid stability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63199-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63199-3
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