LHASA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- From January to August, the total charging volume for new energy vehicles (NEVs) in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region reached a record growth rate, according to regional electricity authorities.

The figure hit 3.72 million kilowatt-hours, marking a 1.7-fold year-on-year increase, which underscores the rapid development of Xizang's NEV market, State Grid Xizang Electric Power Company said.

The regional NEV charging platform has integrated 498 charging piles with 762 charging guns, covering key areas and forming a comprehensive service network. This expansion is driven by the rapid growth of NEVs in recent years, said Zhang Zhigang, chairman of the State Grid Corporation of China, at a July conference.

Since 2021, the company has invested 24.5 billion yuan (about 3.4 billion U.S. dollars) in fixed assets in the region and commissioned the Lhasa 500-kilovolt power transmission and transformation project. The region has so far supplied clean electricity to 16 provinces and municipalities across China, according to Zhang. ■