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Do more chargers mean more electric cars?

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  • Sommer, Stephan
  • Vance, Colin

Abstract

Drawing on panel data from Germany, this paper estimates the relationship between charging infrastructure and the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). We specify models with fixed effects and instrumental variables to gauge the robustness of our findings in the face of alternative channels through which endogeneity bias may emerge. We find that charging infrastructure has a statistically significant and positive impact on EV uptake, with the magnitude of the estimate increasing with population density. The evidence further suggests that although the incidence of charging points in Germany far exceeds the European Union's recommended minimum ratio of one point to ten EVs, inadequate infrastructure coverage remains a binding constraint on EV uptake. We use the model estimates to illustrate the relative cost effectiveness of normal and fast chargers by region, which supports a geographically differentiated targeting of subsidies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2021. "Do more chargers mean more electric cars?," Ruhr Economic Papers 893, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:893
    DOI: 10.4419/96973033
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ulrike Illmann & Jan Kluge, 2021. "Half Full or Half Empty? On the Importance of Nationwide Public Charging Infrastructure for the Development of Electromobility," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 28(05), pages 10-17, October.
    2. Chandra, Minal, 2022. "Investigating the impact of policies, socio-demography and national commitments on electric-vehicle demand: Cross-country study," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    3. Philip, Thara & Whitehead, Jake & Prato, Carlo G., 2023. "Adoption of electric vehicles in a laggard, car-dependent nation: Investigating the potential influence of V2G and broader energy benefits on adoption," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    4. Burra, Lavan T. & Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2023. "Policy Complementarities in the Promotion of Electric Vehicles," Ruhr Economic Papers 1014, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    5. Burra, Lavan Teja & Sommer, Stephan & Vance, Colin, 2022. "Policy Complementarities in the Promotion of Electric Vehicles:Subsidies and Charging Infrastructure," VfS Annual Conference 2022 (Basel): Big Data in Economics 264130, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transport policy; electric vehicles; charging infrastructure; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R40 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - General
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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