Authoritative departments predict that in the 2026 Spring Festival travel rush, self driving travel will continue to be the mainstay, accounting for about 80% of the 9.5 billion trips. The total number of new energy vehicle trips is expected to reach a historic high for the same period, with an estimated 380 million trips. As a relay station for self driving travelers, what is the level of guarantee for highway service areas? How is the service capability? Recently, reporters went deep into highway service areas in Gansu, Henan, Jiangsu and other places to explore the truth. Accelerating the layout of new energy to ensure green travel. As we bid farewell to Lanzhou, Gansu, 55 year old Wang Yaojun from Pingdingshan, Henan continues to drive back home. He, who works at Tarim University in Xinjiang, brought his wife and daughter home for the Chinese New Year this year. "The three of them switched cars and drove for eight or nine hours every day. Today, we can drive to Xi'an. The vehicle slowly drove into the G22 Qinglan Expressway reception service area, and to Wang Yaojun's surprise, it was fully charged in 20 minutes at the "Light Storage Charging Supercharging Station". He said, "The biggest feeling of this year's Spring Festival travel rush is that charging is very convenient and there is no longer mileage anxiety." The pick-up service area is the first near zero carbon service area in Gansu, and this year is also the first Spring Festival travel rush for the "light storage charging super charging station" in this service area. Liu Tao, Chairman of Gansu Provincial Expressway Service Group Co., Ltd., told reporters that by 2025, Gansu Provincial Expressway Service Group will accelerate its new energy layout, build 24 new supercharging stations, and have an intelligent charging network covering 43 pairs of service areas. According to statistics, in the five days before the Spring Festival travel rush, the charging stations under the group's jurisdiction served new energy vehicles, which increased by 40.14% year-on-year. Reporters have seen in multiple highway service areas that new energy vehicle charging has become more intelligent. The service areas of the main highways in Henan Province not only achieve full charging coverage, but also launch a smart charging platform that supports real-time vacancy inquiry, charging reservation, and contactless payment. Now not only is charging fast, but you can also plan energy replenishment routes through mini programs, so you no longer have to worry about battery life when traveling long distances, "said Mr. Wang, a truck driver who travels between Zhengzhou and Guangzhou all year round. In addition to green and intelligent charging service facilities, many places have also planned ahead to respond to emergencies. In Jingzhou, Hubei, one-on-one operation guidance is provided for car owners who are using charging facilities for the first time in service areas to improve charging efficiency and cope with charging peaks. In Suzhou, Jiangsu, State Grid Suzhou Power Supply Company has cooperated with highway service areas to complete large-scale power capacity expansion and renovation. During the Spring Festival travel rush, "emergency evacuation charging vehicles" have been added. Once more than 5 queued vehicles are detected, mobile charging vehicles equipped with energy storage batteries can arrive at the site within 10 minutes to provide energy replenishment. Cultivate new consumption scenarios and enrich travel life. Buy a soup dumpling and enjoy the display of Bian embroidery intangible cultural heritage. This service area is even more delicious than a scenic spot! ”In the "Song Culture" themed service area of G30 Lianhuo Expressway in Kaifeng, Ms. Chen, who drove from Jiangsu, is taking her family to "check-in" at the He Fang archway. The service area has also added a "Song style prayer wall" and a "movable type printing experience area", inviting folk artists to perform on-site. In order to allow returning travelers and passing passengers to immerse themselves in the local cultural charm, Henan Expressway integrates elements of Luoyang peony culture, Xinyang tea culture, etc., and simultaneously upgrades 5 pairs of characteristic service areas. The reporter found in the interview that many highway service areas are developing from "functional guarantee" to creating "new consumption scenarios". The Yangchenghu service area, located at the intersection of the Shanghai Nanjing Expressway and the Shanghai Chengdu Expressway, has an average daily passenger flow of over 100000 and is currently one of the largest highway service areas in China. Drawing on the characteristic elements of classic Suzhou gardens such as Humble Administrator's Garden and Lion Grove, the service area has built four mini gardens. When resting, you can enjoy Suzhou Pingtan and experience VR driving; Before leaving, you can also purchase New Year's goods at the specialty seafood market. According to calculations, although the time used by new energy vehicle owners for charging has decreased, their stay time in the area has actually increased from the past 15 minutes to 45 minutes. Not only that, various regions are also launching special themed activities in their service areas. Zhejiang Transportation Group's high-speed post network service area innovatively launches the "Stage on the Highway" series of cultural activities; Anhui Jiaokong Yida Group is building New Year's markets in key service areas such as Chenbu, Fengle, and Xinqiao; Gansu has carried out intangible cultural heritage handicrafts, folk custom performances, Paper Cuttings sugar paintings and other activities in Wuwei, Dingxi and other service areas, so that drivers and passengers can feel the authentic flavor of Longyuan. Creating a new service experience to escort warm travel. Targeting the different travel needs of self driving drivers, multiple highway service areas provide precise and powerful transportation service guarantees, striving to innovate and change in service experience. The Gehu service area of the Ninghu Expressway has dedicated parking spaces for RVs. RV travelers can not only scan the QR code to charge, but also replenish water and clean up greywater. During holidays, this service area becomes an important supply point for RVs traveling to Shanghai and Zhejiang. In 2025, the service area will be upgraded and renovated, and the outdoor parking area will be expanded from 26000 square meters to 75000 square meters to better meet the travel needs of different groups. ”Sun Jing, Director of Changzhou Gehu Service Area of Jiangsu Ninghu Expressway Co., Ltd., said. During the Spring Festival travel rush, the number of vehicles loaded with various materials on highways surged. Gansu has taken the lead in launching the "Worry Free Car and Cargo" public liability insurance, providing protection for trucks and their goods entering the service area. At the same time, high-speed medical consortia have been established in 16 service areas under its jurisdiction to provide medical assistance services for drivers and passengers. Optimize services only when they are in progress and not yet completed. The Shandong Expressway Service Area provides three basic services for free: hot water supply, food heating, and mobile phone charging. Among them, 159 service areas have also added free shower services; Establishing a "police security linkage" convenience service station in the Hebei Expressway Service Area to facilitate the quick handling of simple and undisputed traffic accidents by the public; In the service area of Henan Expressway, 3020 aging friendly toilet seats have been fully put into use, and double filtration equipment has been installed on the water boiler to ensure the supply of "safe water". In the past, I didn't dare to drink water on the way, and it was inconvenient to use the restroom when I arrived at the service area. Now I don't have to worry. ”Mr. Zhang, 72 years old, felt very considerate after using the aging friendly restroom in the Xinyang service area of the Beijing Hong Kong Macau Expressway. For highway service areas, the annual Spring Festival travel rush is a big test. Only by providing a convenient, comfortable, and warm travel environment for the public with standardized and humanized services can we deliver a qualified 2026 Spring Festival travel report. (New Society)