Â
>>REAL-TIME UPDATES IN THE WIRE. CLICK HERE<<<
Â
Â
State Grid of China has started a pilot in some regions to encourage car owners to charge during off-peak hours in a bid to ensure the safe operation of the power grid during peak usage.
The pilot will start from nearly 350,000 charging piles in Chongqing city and the provinces of Zhejiang and Hubei, according to state broadcaster CCTV report on Thursday.
During the peak hours of 15:00-22:00, the maximum charging power of charging piles in the regions will be limited in order to curb power load during peak hours, according to the report.
In addition, State Grid will offer coupons for 50% discount on charging services to encourage electric vehicle owners to charge during off-peak hours, the report said, without mentioning how long the measure will be implemented.
The three pilot areas have nearly 800,000 EVs, and if they all charge during peak hours, they would add an additional 2 million kilowatts of load to the grid, equivalent to the electricity load of more than 300,000 home uses, the report said, citing the State Grid.
The pilot measure will help ensure grid security, as well as guarantee residential electricity demand, it said.