Toward sustainability: Analyzing the role of NEVs in inclusive green growth through nighttime light data

Abstract

Amid the global transition to green and low-carbon development, new energy vehicles (NEVs) are a key pathway to promoting sustainable development. This study investigated 124 county-level administrative units in Guangdong Province (including two province-administered cities) from 2019 to 2023. An Inclusive Green Growth Index (IGGI) and a New Energy Vehicle Promotion Degree (NEVPD) indicator were developed based on nighttime light (NTL) data and statistical yearbook data. By employing both a coupling coordination model and spatial econometric analysis, the study systematically evaluated the synergistic relationship and spatial effects between these two indices. The results indicate that: (1) estimations based on NTL data were reliable and supported regional research on inclusive green growth; (2) Both NEVPD and IGGI exhibited sustained growth trajectories from 2019 to 2023, with steadily improving coupling coordination levels and a year-by-year reduction in extremely uncoordinated areas. Regional disparities also gradually narrowed. (3) Spatial model results revealed that NEV promotion facilitated local inclusive green growth and also generated positive spillover effects on neighboring regions; (4) Significant spatial disparities remained in Guangdong's regional development. Coupling coordination effects were markedly stronger in the Pearl River Delta than in Eastern, Western, and Northern Guangdong, highlighting the persistent regional imbalance. These findings offer potential government policies for advancing inclusive green transition, promoting regional development balance, and expanding the NEV market to achieve sustainable regional development.