Are there charging stations at service areas now?
2 Answers
Some service areas have charging stations, but not all of them. Precautions when charging your car: 1. Turn off the headlights: As private charging piles are increasingly being installed, charging piles are generally installed in underground garages. However, when charging, you must set the headlights to AUTO or turn them off. Moreover, electric vehicles do not have engine idling, so before leaving the car, you must check whether the vehicle's power is turned off. Generally, the headlights and low-power electrical equipment in new energy vehicles are powered by the vehicle's battery. If they are left on for a long time, the battery can easily discharge. Even if the power battery is fully charged, the battery's power can be depleted, which will affect the vehicle's startup. 2. Try not to turn on the air conditioning or use in-car equipment: Most car owners will stay in the car while charging their electric vehicles. If it is hot in summer or cold in winter, car owners may think of turning on the air conditioning. If possible, try not to turn it on, because using the air conditioning while charging can reduce the service life of the battery pack.
I often drive long distances in my electric vehicle and have noticed that most highway service areas now have charging stations, especially around big cities and on high-traffic expressways. Last year, I drove my EV on the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, where almost every service area was equipped with fast-charging piles. It was quite convenient to locate available charging spots using a mobile app. The charging wait time is usually around half an hour, which is perfect for grabbing a meal or taking a walk to rest, so there's no need to worry about range. However, coverage might be sparser in remote areas, so it's best to check the charging facilities at specific service areas using a map app before setting off to avoid running out of power midway. Overall, with the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the charging infrastructure at service areas has really improved a lot, which is a huge help.
