Electric Vehicle Charging Efficiency Is Important for Ev Charger Operator

By November 2026, 90% of charging stations in China may face "elimination". This is not really an exaggeration, but a true countdown to the new national standard. How can pile companies and operators survive in this elimination round, or rather live longer. There is only one answer, first level energy efficiency.

Starting from next year, charging stations will be subject to mandatory energy efficiency levels, just like air conditioners. The new national standard GB46519-2025 clearly stipulates that the weighted efficiency of DC ev charger stations must be ≥ 96.5% to achieve the next level of energy efficiency. Devices with charging efficiency<94.5% and standby power consumption>30kw will not be able to enter the market. And first level energy efficiency will become a watershed for top players. We found through comparison that the first level energy efficiency requirements of the new national standard have increased by 0.5-1% compared to the previous draft opinions of 95.5% and 96%. It can be seen that the China has put forward stricter requirements for energy efficiency. According to the new national standard, most of the DC piles currently on the market are still at level two or three energy efficiency, and these non level one energy efficiency piles are likely to be cleaned up by the market in the future. Eventually eliminated. Charging energy efficiency will increasingly become a core concern for operators and leading pile companies. 

What does every 1% increase from 94.5% to 95.5%, and then to 96.5% mean for operators? It can be said that the energy efficiency is one level lower and the profit difference is tens of thousands. Take a well operated heavy-duty truck station using 480KW charging stations as an example: assuming there are a total of 20 guns and the station charges 20000 kWh per day. 

Adopting three-level energy-efficient charging piles (weighted efficiency ≥ 94.5%), annual loss: 20000kWh × 5.5% × 365 days=401500kWh

Adopting first level energy-efficient charging piles (weighted efficiency ≥ 96.5%), equipment annual loss: 20000kWh × 3.5% × 365 days=255500kWh

Electricity cost (401500-25500) kWh x 0.7 yuan/kWh=102200 yuan, saving over 100000 yuan in electricity cost annually. 

It can be said that efficiency equals profit, and the saved electricity costs can cover the initial cost investment faster, accelerating the return on investment cycle of operators. The new national standard is not an ordinary upgrade, but a qualitative change in energy efficiency threshold. So after November next year, inefficient piles are likely to face three major challenges. Unable to enter the project bidding process, users prioritize efficient piles, resulting in a significant reduction in asset prices. In addition, there is a problem of high-frequency derating in the actual operation of power stations, and equipment with lower energy efficiency levels is prone to derating due to heat generation. 

In hot weather, 480KW may drop directly to 240KW, resulting in a half slower charging speed. Directly affecting the turnover rate of stations, especially during peak electricity consumption periods, it can be said that operators are losing both electricity and service fees. The key to achieving first level energy efficiency for charging stations is to use high conversion efficiency charging modules.