High oil prices drive a surge in Chinese electric vehicle sales, but charging networks lag behind
Record Chinese EV exports are reaching Africa and Southeast Asia as public chargers remain scarce, with Thailand offering about one charger for every 92 vehicles.
- In April, global exports of Chinese EVs hit a record $9.4 billion, as soaring fuel prices following the war in Iran push drivers in developing nations toward electric vehicles.
- Chinese automakers supplied around 60% of electric cars sold globally, with Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto, pledging to accelerate overseas expansion in Southeast Asia over the next five years.
- Charging infrastructure lags behind imports, creating a "classic chicken-and-egg problem" regarding what comes first, said Paul Gong, head of UBS bank's China automotive industry research, noting government support is vital.
- Indonesia's state-owned power utility PLN deployed more than 4,500 public chargers, while Malaysia saw public fast chargers rise more than 70% in 2025 following new tax break incentives for operators.
- State-Controlled utility Kenya Power plans to build 44 charging stations within the next year, while Ethiopia, which banned non-EV imports, estimates it needs more than 1,170 stations to meet rising demand.
13 Articles
13 Articles
EV charging network 'simply isn't keeping up' as 2030 petrol and diesel ban drives surge in electric cars
The UK's electric car charging network could fail to keep up with soaring demand, raising concerns that infrastructure shortages could undermine the Government's push towards mass EV adoption despite new incentives encouraging drivers to go electric.
Associated Press News
High oil prices drive a surge in Chinese electric vehicle sales, but charging networks lag behind
The war in Iran has helped reshape the global electric vehicle market, giving Chinese automakers an opening across the developing world as fuel prices surge.
Chinese Electric Vehicle Sales Surge Amid Rising Oil Prices, Charging Networks Lag Behind
The war in Iran has impacted the global electric vehicle market, benefiting Chinese automakers due to soaring fuel prices pushing drivers towards electric vehicles. While China exported about 435,000 passenger EVs and plug-in hybrids in May, more than double from the previous year, the growth in EV adoption is outpacing the expansion of charging networks. This mismatch presents a "classic chicken-and-egg problem," as noted by Paul Gong of UBS ba…
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