Unlike during the pandemic, it is not that Chinese are moving around less. Instead, they are changing the way they travel: rail journeys grew around ​10% in March and April annually, compared to around 5% last year, according to Ministry of Transport data. Travel by subway or taxis, which ⁠are electrified in many cities, is also growing rapidly, the data shows.

Another fuel trader in China’s southwest, surnamed Song, said demand from logistics, mining and industry had dropped considerably while many construction clients had “disappeared entirely,” having already swapped their diesel trucks for electrics.

Ride-sharing company Didi told Reuters half its car rental bookings during the ​May holiday were for electrics or hybrids, just over double the number over the same period last year.

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