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The impact of promoting new energy vehicles on carbon intensity: Causal evidence from China

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  • Wang, Kunlun
  • Zheng, Leven J.
  • Zhang, Justin Zuopeng
  • Yao, Hongjiang

Abstract

The transport sector accounts for about a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions. Given the huge future growth of the carbon emissions of the transport sector and its tight links to socio-economic development, the introduction of new energy vehicles can not only reduce carbon emissions but also decarbonize the entire economic system by decreasing carbon intensity. Taking advantage of a promotion project in China as a natural experiment, this paper explores the causal effect of promoting new energy vehicles on reducing carbon intensity. Our empirical results show that the promotion of new energy vehicles decreases the carbon intensity in demonstration cities by about 4.5% and decomposition analyses show that less than one-fifths of the decrease comes from the reduction of carbon emissions, and the other four-fifths result from the increases in outputs. Mechanism analyses suggest that in terms of passenger vehicles, this project increases the number of newly registered pure electric passengers motor vehicles, but has no influence on public transportation and taxis. Moreover, the promotion of new energy vehicles by this project is not brought about by the subsidy policy for the private purchase of them. We also put forward some policy recommendations for constructing a low-carbon transport system.

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  • Wang, Kunlun & Zheng, Leven J. & Zhang, Justin Zuopeng & Yao, Hongjiang, 2022. "The impact of promoting new energy vehicles on carbon intensity: Causal evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:114:y:2022:i:c:s0140988322003966
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2022.106255
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    6. Yihang Zhao & Yuanyuan Zhang & Shengyu Wang, 2024. "Can a Policy Mix Achieve a Collaborative Effect? Exploring the Nested Implementation Process of Urban Carbon Emission Reduction Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-19, July.
    7. Xu, Chong & Li, Zhiwen & Chen, Boyang & Yang, Qian & An, Jiafu, 2024. "Low-carbon development in China's transportation sector: Multidimensional characteristics and policy implications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    8. Min Zhao & Yu Fang & Debao Dai, 2023. "Forecast of the Evolution Trend of Total Vehicle Sales and Power Structure of China under Different Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.
    9. Ren, Maohui & Zhou, Tao & Wang, ChenXi, 2024. "New energy vehicle innovation network, innovation resources agglomeration externalities and energy efficiency: Navigating industry chain innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Carbon intensity; New energy vehicles; Carbon emissions reduction; Subsidy policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • Q40 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - General

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