Optimal range of plug-in electric vehicles in Beijing and Shanghai

Yan Xing (), Alan T. Jenn (), Yunshi Wang (), Chunyan Li (), Shengyang Sun (), Xiaohua Ding () and Siwen Deng ()
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Yan Xing: University of California, Davis
Alan T. Jenn: University of California, Davis
Yunshi Wang: University of California, Davis
Chunyan Li: Beijing Transport Institute
Shengyang Sun: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH
Xiaohua Ding: Shanghai Electric Vehicle Public Data Collecting, Monitoring and Research Center
Siwen Deng: Shanghai Electric Vehicle Public Data Collecting, Monitoring and Research Center

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2020, vol. 25, issue 3, No 9, 458 pages

Abstract: Abstract Both China’s national subsidy policies for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) purchasers and passenger cars corporate average fuel consumption and new vehicle credit regulation (dual-credit policy) favor long-range 300+ km battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 80+ km plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). However, these electric vehicles tend to have lower energy efficiency and higher purchase and operation costs. Vehicle with larger batteries can also be less equitable because the subsidies are often provided to more expensive vehicles and wealthier owners. This study takes advantage of a novel dataset of daily driving data from 39,854 conventional gasoline vehicles in Beijing and 4999 PHEVs in Shanghai to determine the optimal range of BEVs and PHEVs within their respective cities. We simulate a model to explore ranges with which PEVs emit less GHGs than that of a baseline hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicle while ensuring that all daily travel demands are met. Our findings indicate that in both cities, the optimal ranges to balance cost and travel demand for BEVs are 350 km or less and for PHEVs are 60 km or less in Beijing and 80 km or less in Shanghai. We also find that to minimize carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the ranges are even lower 10 km in Beijing and 30 km in Shanghai. Our study suggests that instead of encouraging long-range PEVs, governments should subsidize PEV models with shorter ranges. Parallel efforts should also be made to both increase renewable energy over fossil fuels and expand charging facilities. Although individual mobility demand varies, the government could reduce occasional long-distance driving by subsidizing alternative transportation choices. Providing week-long driving trials to consumers before their purchases may help decrease the demand of very long range PEVs by alleviating the range anxiety through a learning process.

Keywords: China’s national subsidy policy; Plug-in electric vehicles; Optimal range; Travel demand; Carbon emission reduction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s11027-020-09912-7

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