During the National Day holiday, the news of electric vehicle (EV) owners queuing up for charging has once again taken social media by storm.

Numerous media outlets have reported that, due to the high demand for charging, long queues have formed at service areas across various locations. Some EV owners have found themselves waiting in line for several hours just to charge their vehicles.

Consequently, many have begun to criticize EVs again, arguing that gasoline vehicles offer greater convenience. Of course, some also contend that this is precisely when extended-range EVs excel, as they provide the flexibility to both refuel and recharge, making them exceptionally convenient.

To be frank, such news surfaces every National Day and every Spring Festival.

But is the situation truly caused by the limited range of EVs and the scarcity of charging stations? In my view, 99% of the responsibility for this predicament lies with car owners who failed to plan their journeys properly.

Firstly, while the range of current pure EVs varies, most can comfortably travel 300 kilometers without any issues. Recently released models can even cover distances of 400 or 500 kilometers.

For the average driver, such a range is more than sufficient for 4 to 5 hours of expressway driving.

According to agency statistics, during holidays like National Day and Spring Festival, over 70% of car travelers embark on trips of less than 500 kilometers. Those traveling longer distances generally opt for high-speed rail, airplanes, or other modes of transportation rather than driving themselves.

Of course, given the large number of domestic car owners and the popularity of self-driving, even 30% represents a significant figure. If everyone rushes to charge at service areas, congestion is inevitable, which is the crux of the problem.

However, have you considered that most EVs now come equipped with fast-charging capabilities? While fully charging may take longer, charging from 10% to 80% generally doesn't require hours, though this does depend on new technological support. Even if we factor in a slower charging time, 30 minutes should suffice, right?

It can be argued that with a bit of planning—for instance, if my car has a range of 300 kilometers, then when it reaches 250 kilometers, I can simply exit the expressway at any exit, enter the city, find a charging station, and charge for 30 minutes. This is a relatively straightforward task that won't consume too much of everyone's time. Is it illegal to charge off the expressway? Especially since expressways are toll-free during National Day and Spring Festival, charging off the expressway is even more convenient.

Moreover, charging stations in cities are abundant and generally do not require queuing. You can charge whenever it suits you. So why insist on squeezing onto the expressway to charge? Can't you spare an extra 30 minutes and charge off the expressway with ease? Must you cram into the expressway service area to charge?

Therefore, I believe that the essence of this issue does not lie in the inconvenience of charging EVs or the inadequacy of charging stations. The root cause is car owners' failure to plan their trips properly. They mistakenly believe that it is illegal to charge off the expressway and have not made detailed arrangements. They cannot blame the cars or others; they can only blame themselves.