Key points in this article
Why the price war happened
The charging 'price war' is receding. To grab users, public service fees fell from 0.3–0.4 to 0.06 yuan/kWh, even 'free charging' and gifts; yet industry math says a public stall needs at least 0.4 yuan/kWh to break even. CCTV's Half-Hour Economy found over 80% of operators in the red, top firms netting only ~4 fen/kWh after depreciation, rent and O&M—while national public-stall utilisation stays under 10%, some tier-1 sites below 2%, far from the 8%–10% breakeven line.
Rules reset the floor
The turn came from rules. On 1 Apr 2026 the NDRC, SAMR and NEA Operating Management Rules took effect, setting a fee red line and banning unfair low-price competition. With market-based dynamic pricing from 1 Mar 2026, major platforms (State Grid e-Charge, TELD, StarCharge) lifted fees to 0.3–0.75 yuan/kWh: core business districts rebounded to 0.4–0.6, some highway peaks above 1 yuan/kWh. This is not just a hike but a return to sustainable cost coverage.
Yantai's steady choice
For Yantai owners and communities, price normalisation is good. Dongdian Huichong's compliant shelters and public charging stand for 'clear pricing, fair fees, stable service': when fees cover safety and O&M, stalls stay sustainable and don't become 'built-but-unkept' zombies. When choosing, weigh 'transparent price + high uptime' above 'lowest unit price'.