China — Planning For Massive EV Expansion Along The Silk Road - CleanTechnica

The article highlights China’s ambitious plans to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure along the historic Silk Road, particularly focusing on the country’s less developed northwestern regions such as the Uygur Autonomous Region. Despite the current low number of EVs in these areas, China is proactively building highways and installing EV charging stations powered by solar energy, even in remote locations like the Gobi Desert. This forward-thinking approach ensures that the necessary infrastructure will be in place to support the anticipated surge in EV adoption, reflecting China’s commitment to a widespread rEVolution beyond its major cities. During a recent trip retracing parts of the Silk Road, the author observed a landscape rich in renewable energy projects, including solar power plants, wind farms, and innovative concentrated solar towers used for energy storage. While metropolitan buses are already electric, diesel-powered tour buses remain common, likely due to the absence of government mandates for full electrification outside urban centers. The article also notes ongoing testing of new EV models by Great Wall