State Grid Corp of China has come up with some preferential off-peak electric vehicle charging services in provinces where power grid load has hit record highs due to the heat wave.

Electric vehicles that charge from 3 pm to 10 pm, the off-peak hours, will enjoy longer charging hours and preferential charging fees, it said. The company hopes the move will help ease the pressure on the grid.

Peak power loads have hit record highs in many provinces in China recently, as extreme heat is sweeping across the country, putting pressure on the grid.

The first batch of pilot projects will cover 350,000 charging poles in Chongqing, Zhejiang and Hubei provinces, it said.

The company will offer 50 percent discount coupons for charging service through its mobile charging app to encourage vehicle users to charge their vehicles during off-peak power consumption periods.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn