Assessing the impact of electric vehicle adoption on environmental equity and mitigation mechanisms in China

IF 4.7 4区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment Pub Date : 2026-09-01 Epub Date: 2026-10-12 DOI:10.1016/j.cjpre.2026.08.003

Zhaofu Yang, Yongna Yuan, Bowen Zeng

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Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are likely to dominate the new car sales market by 2035, as China aims to decarbonize its transportation sector. Notwithstanding the significant local environmental benefits, EVs may raise environmental inequity concerns, with air pollution shifting from regions importing electricity to net electricity exporters. Using provincial monthly panel data from January 2016 to December 2022, this study examines the impact of EV adoption on regional environmental equity and explores the mechanisms that mitigate inequality. The results show that (1) EVs reduce air pollution in user regions but exacerbate pollution burdens and environmental management costs in electricity exporting regions, thereby widening regional disparities in environmental equity; (2) pollution transfer effects intensify progressively, especially during peak winter demand, with pollution concentrated in net electricity exporting provinces; and (3) pollution transfer effects of EVs are mitigated in regions with a higher share of renewable power generation, stronger technological innovation, and stricter environmental regulation. However, once these factors surpass their respective thresholds, regional environmental inequities are reduced. Revealing that the underlying mechanism of regional environmental imbalance is induced by EVs diffusion, this study emphasizes that the coordination of renewable energy development, technological advancement, and environmental governance is critical for transport electrification and environmental equity.

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评估中国电动汽车普及对环境公平和缓解机制的影响

到2035年，电动汽车（ev）可能会主导新车销售市场，因为中国的目标是使其交通运输部门脱碳。尽管电动汽车对当地环境有显著的好处，但它可能会引发对环境不平等的担忧，空气污染将从电力进口国转移到净电力出口国。利用2016年1月至2022年12月的省级月度面板数据，本研究考察了电动汽车采用对区域环境公平的影响，并探讨了缓解不平等的机制。结果表明：(1)电动汽车减少了用电区域的空气污染，但加重了电力输出区域的污染负担和环境管理成本，从而扩大了环境公平的区域差异；②污染转移效应逐渐增强，尤其是冬季用电高峰，污染集中在净电力输出省份；③在可再生能源发电比重高、技术创新力度大、环境监管严格的地区，电动汽车的污染转移效应减弱。然而，一旦这些因素超过了它们各自的阈值，区域环境不平等就会减少。该研究揭示了区域环境失衡的根本机制是电动汽车的扩散，强调可再生能源发展、技术进步和环境治理的协调是实现交通电气化和环境公平的关键。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Chinese Journal of Population Resources and Environment ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

1.10%

发文量

791

审稿时长

79 days

期刊介绍： The Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment (CJPRE) is a peer-reviewed international academic journal that publishes original research in the fields of economic, population, resource, and environment studies as they relate to sustainable development. The journal aims to address and evaluate theoretical frameworks, capability building initiatives, strategic goals, ethical values, empirical research, methodologies, and techniques in the field. CJPRE began publication in 1992 and is sponsored by the Chinese Society for Sustainable Development (CSSD), the Research Center for Sustainable Development of Shandong Province, the Administrative Center for China's Agenda 21 (ACCA21), and Shandong Normal University. The Chinese title of the journal was inscribed by the former Chinese leader, Mr. Deng Xiaoping. Initially focused on China's advances in sustainable development, CJPRE now also highlights global developments from both developed and developing countries.