China’s electric vehicle dream hit a harsh reality check during the recent Chinese New Year travel rush, as one EV owner’s exhausting journey home went viral online. What was supposed to be a smooth 1,800km drive turned into a three day ordeal filled with charging stops, rising costs and overwhelming frustration.
A video posted on reddot, shows a visibly drained woman recounting her family’s road trip from Zhejiang to Guizhou. Instead of reaching home within a day as planned, the freezing winter temperatures significantly reduced their vehicle’s battery range, forcing them to stop and recharge 12 times along the way.
According to reddot, the situation was made worse by peak season congestion at charging stations and soaring electricity prices. According to the woman, the total cost of charging and toll fees exceeded 2,000 yuan, roughly RM1,250. What was meant to be a cost saving electric journey quickly turned into what she described as a “charging marathon.” At one point, she broke down on camera, exclaiming that she was “about to lose her mind.”
The video provided by reddot, quickly sparked heated debate online. Some netizens pointed out that charging 12 times over 1,800km meant stopping roughly every 150km, sarcastically comparing the EV’s performance to that of an electric bicycle. Others, particularly long time drivers of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, used the incident to highlight what they see as the limitations of EVs during extreme travel periods. One veteran driver with 30 years of experience commented that holiday travel exposes the weaknesses of electric vehicles and insisted he would not switch unless fuel powered cars completely disappeared from the market.
The incident has reignited public discussion in China about the practicality of long-distance EV travel, especially during major holidays when infrastructure is stretched to its limits. While electric vehicles are often praised for their lower running costs and environmental benefits, critics argue that time delays, charging uncertainties and fluctuating prices can quickly erase those advantages during peak travel seasons.
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