Power use up in EV charging sector

Electricity consumption by China's electric vehicle charging and internet data service sectors soared in July, highlighting robust demand from the country's fast-growing new energy vehicle and digital industries, official data showed on Friday.

Power consumption by charging and battery-swapping services reached 16.4 billion kilowatt-hours in July, surging 50.3 percent year-on-year, while that of internet data services jumped 40.1 percent to 9.9 billion kilowatt-hours, according to the National Energy Administration.

China's total electricity consumption for July stood at 1.04 trillion kilowatt-hours, up 1.7 percent year-on-year.

A closer look reveals that electricity consumption by the primary industry stood at 16.7 billion kilowatt-hours in July, down 2 percent year-on-year. Power use by the tertiary industry rose 4.8 percent to 218.3 billion kilowatt-hours, while electricity consumption by the secondary industry increased 3 percent to 611.6 billion kilowatt-hours last month.

Notably, power consumption by high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries climbed 8.9 percent year-on-year to 122 billion kilowatt-hours in July.

Electricity consumption is widely seen as a barometer of economic activity, with shifts in power demand offering clues to changes in industrial structure and growth drivers.

XINHUA - CHINA DAILY