EV Charging in China: Connectors, Networks & Costs

China is by far the world's biggest EV market, with more electric cars and more public chargers than anywhere else. It uses its own connector standard — GB/T — and is also the global leader in battery swapping, where depleted packs are exchanged for full ones in minutes.

Connectors you'll meet

• GB/T — the national standard for both AC and DC charging; different from CCS, CHAdeMO or NACS.
• Battery swap — NIO and others run swap stations that exchange the whole battery in minutes as an alternative to plugging in.

The major networks

• State Grid — vast public network, especially along highways.
• TELD, Star Charge (Wanbang) — the largest private fast-charging networks.
• NIO Power — battery-swap stations plus charging.

Travelling with a non-GB/T car? You'll generally need the right adapter or a vehicle built to the Chinese standard — check compatibility before relying on public chargers.

Practical tips

• Public DC pricing is commonly split into an energy fee plus a service fee — check both.
• Battery swapping is a genuinely fast option where available.
• Use ChargEV to find nearby stations and confirm the connector before you go.