Here's what a Chinese motorway charging station looks like

Are all motorway charging stations the same? The shortest answer is, obviously, no. Partly because of the different prices, partly because of the different services, choosing where to stop during long journeys can often be a dilemma. But what is the situation in other countries?

During our recent trip to China in the Jaecoo 7 PHEV, we stopped at a local charging station service area, discovering that behind that 'vintage' façade, there is an unexpected world.

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From food to electronics

As you can see from the video attached at the top of this page, entering the Chinese charging station service area reveals a spacious and well-equipped environment that is quite unique by our European standards.

As we take our first steps into this large structure, the first thing we notice is the massive presence of local food, both pre-packaged (and very unusual) and hot, cooked on the spot. Moving on a few metres, a huge Chinese electronic gadgets shop appears, where you can find everything from chargers to various accessories for smartphones.

Those who have travelled extensively around the Old Continent might only find similarities in some now almost defunct German motorway service stations, inside which, just like this Chinese one, customers can find everything from local souvenirs to precious stones.