Yesterday Li Auto opened its 500e supercharger station, 43 days after the opening of the 400e station. That would be an impressive figure, were it not for Li Auto’s goal of launching 2,000+ supercharger stations by the end of 2024.
– Advertisement –
If Li Auto wants to achieve its goal, it will need to install an average of 250 supercharger stations per month in the second half of the year, which is about four times the current installation rate. Obviously, Li Auto won’t be able to simply reach that level in July, meaning the pace will need to be around 500 per month by the end of the year to average it out.
Earlier this month, Li Auto signed a deal with CNPC, China’s largest petroleum company, and under the deal, charging stations will be installed at CNPC gas stations across the country. This deal could mean Li Auto can reach the 2000+ target this year.
– Advertisement –
Until this year, Li Auto could do no wrong with a series of successful products and sales records that were set almost monthly. However, Li Auto’s progress has seriously stalled this year. Previously, Li only sold longer-range SUVs, but this year it launched its first fully electric car, the Mega MPV. Sales were lower than expected, so much so that Li has postponed the launch of further fully electric models until 2025 instead of later this year. On June 24, a class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of investors who acquired Li Auto securities between February 26, 2024 and March 20, 2024. The action is based on the allegation that investors were misled by the company’s announcements and that it exaggerated the demand for the Mega. Remember, Li Auto is listed on the Nasdaq.
Li Auto’s supercharger station is based on a 5C charger, which was unveiled at last year’s Shanghai Auto Show. The ‘C’ refers to the charging multiplier, meaning that a 5C charger can charge five times, assuming the battery is capable of such a charge. The Mega (see specs) is equipped with CATL’s Qilin battery, which is 5C-capable and means it can charge from 10-80% in just 10 minutes and 36 seconds.
According to Li’s plans, the 2,000 supercharging stations will offer 10,000 charging stations, an average of five per station. In theory, this could mean that up to 25 cars could be charged per hour at each station. However, the stations are open to all electric vehicles and most electric vehicles in China do not support such fast charging, meaning they would take considerably longer than 10 minutes.
– Advertisement –
Of the 500 superchargers installed so far, 416 are on highways that pose one of the biggest obstacles to electric driving in China. Expressways covered are the G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway, G15 Shenhai Expressway-Shanghai-Haihai Section and G25 Changshen Expressway-Hangzhou-Shenzhen Section. The expansion plan calls for superstations on G1, G5, G30, G40, G42 and G45, along with additional sections of G2, G4 and G15. Coverage is planned to be 90% in major urban areas and well over 70% on national highways.
Sources: Li Auto, Autohome, PRNewswire,