IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/asiaec/v39y2025i2p217-244.html

The impact of electric vehicle adoption on regional energy market integration in China

Author

Listed:
  • Qian Cheng
  • Yongqing Xiong
  • Jinghui Liu

Abstract

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked significant interest in its potential to transform the energy landscape. This study examines the impact of EV adoption on regional energy market integration (EMI) based on data from China, and combines with threshold models to explore the mechanism in terms of electricity consumption, supply, and generation side. We find that EV adoption promotes China's EMI, and this effect remains robust after addressing endogeneity issues and conducting a series of robustness tests. Moreover, EV adoption has threshold effects on EMI, which is manifested as a single threshold effect of energy system electrification, a single threshold effect of inter‐provincial electricity trading, and a double threshold effect of renewable energy generation. The maximum benefits can be achieved when these factors exceed certain threshold values. Further analysis reveals that electricity system reform and EV subsidy policies positively moderate the effect of EV adoption on EMI, and EMI exhibits benefits in reducing market concentration and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector. These findings offer valuable insights into how the increasing prevalence of EVs shapes the broader paradigm of EMI.

Suggested Citation

  • Qian Cheng & Yongqing Xiong & Jinghui Liu, 2025. "The impact of electric vehicle adoption on regional energy market integration in China," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 39(2), pages 217-244, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:asiaec:v:39:y:2025:i:2:p:217-244
    DOI: 10.1111/asej.12353
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/asej.12353
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/asej.12353?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sandra Poncet, 2005. "A Fragmented China: Measure and Determinants of Chinese Domestic Market Disintegration," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(3), pages 409-430, August.
    2. repec:aen:journl:2006v27-02-a04 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Severin Borenstein & James B. Bushnell & Frank A. Wolak, 2002. "Measuring Market Inefficiencies in California's Restructured Wholesale Electricity Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 92(5), pages 1376-1405, December.
    4. Rui Hao, 2008. "Opening up, Market Reforms, and Convergence Clubs in China," Post-Print hal-00284982, HAL.
    5. Chenxi Xiang & Xinye Zheng & Feng Song & Jiang Lin & Zhigao Jiang, 2023. "Author Correction: Assessing the roles of efficient market versus regulatory capture in China’s power market reform," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(11), pages 1296-1296, November.
    6. Lance J. Bachmeier & James M. Griffin, 2006. "Testing for Market Integration Crude Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas," The Energy Journal, , vol. 27(2), pages 55-71, April.
    7. Rui Hao, 2008. "Opening up, Market Reform, and Convergence Clubs in China," Asian Economic Journal, East Asian Economic Association, vol. 22(2), pages 133-160, June.
    8. Zhang, Dandan & Shi, Xunpeng & Sheng, Yu, 2015. "Comprehensive measurement of energy market integration in East Asia: An application of dynamic principal component analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(PB), pages 299-305.
    9. Chen, Zhiwu & Knez, Peter J, 1995. "Measurement of Market Integration and Arbitrage," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 8(2), pages 287-325.
    10. Zeynali, Saeed & Nasiri, Nima & Ravadanegh, Sajad Najafi & Marzband, Mousa, 2022. "A three-level framework for strategic participation of aggregated electric vehicle-owning households in local electricity and thermal energy markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    11. Chenxi Xiang & Xinye Zheng & Feng Song & Jiang Lin & Zhigao Jiang, 2023. "Assessing the roles of efficient market versus regulatory capture in China’s power market reform," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 747-757, July.
    12. Akhmedjonov, Alisher & Lau, Chi Keung, 2012. "Do energy prices converge across Russian regions?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 29(5), pages 1623-1631.
    13. Zheng, Yilin & Lu, Ming & Li, Jiewei, 2022. "Internal circulation in China: Analyzing market segmentation and integration using big data for truck traffic flow," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    14. Yuan, Meng & Thellufsen, Jakob Zinck & Lund, Henrik & Liang, Yongtu, 2021. "The electrification of transportation in energy transition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    15. Cassetta, Ernesto & Nava, Consuelo R. & Zoia, Maria Grazia, 2022. "A three-step procedure to investigate the convergence of electricity and natural gas prices in the European Union," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    16. Wang, Hongye & Su, Bin & Mu, Hailin & Li, Nan & Jiang, Bo & Kong, Xue, 2019. "Optimization of electricity generation and interprovincial trading strategies in Southern China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 696-707.
    17. Li, Zhenhe & Khajepour, Amir & Song, Jinchun, 2019. "A comprehensive review of the key technologies for pure electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 824-839.
    18. Chen, Hao & Cui, Jian & Song, Feng & Jiang, Zhigao, 2022. "Evaluating the impacts of reforming and integrating China's electricity sector," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    19. Wu, Wei & Lin, Boqiang, 2021. "Benefits of electric vehicles integrating into power grid," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    20. Kong, Yuan & Feng, Chao & Yang, Jun, 2020. "How does China manage its energy market? A perspective of policy evolution," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    21. Ciarreta, Aitor & Nasirov, Shahriyar & Silva, Carlos, 2016. "The development of market power in the Spanish power generation sector: Perspectives after market liberalization," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 700-710.
    22. Liang Nie & ZhongXiang Zhang, 2022. "Market Segmentation and Energy Efficiency: Evidence from China’s Regional Economies," The Energy Journal, , vol. 43(6), pages 217-242, November.
    23. Jia, Zhijie & Lin, Boqiang & Wen, Shiyan, 2022. "Electricity market Reform: The perspective of price regulation and carbon neutrality," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    24. repec:aen:journl:ej43-6-zhang is not listed on IDEAS
    25. Ma, Hengyun & Oxley, Les, 2012. "The emergence and evolution of regional convergence clusters in China's energy markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 82-94.
    26. Pampa Sinha & Kaushik Paul & Sanchari Deb & Sulabh Sachan, 2023. "Comprehensive Review Based on the Impact of Integrating Electric Vehicle and Renewable Energy Sources to the Grid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-39, March.
    27. Su, Hongwei & Liang, Biming, 2021. "The impact of regional market integration and economic opening up on environmental total factor energy productivity in Chinese provinces," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).
    28. Enflo, Kerstin & Kander, Astrid & Schön, Lennart, 2009. "Electrification and energy productivity," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2808-2817, September.
    29. Parsley, David C. & Wei, Shang-Jin, 2001. "Explaining the border effect: the role of exchange rate variability, shipping costs, and geography," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(1), pages 87-105, October.
    30. Cramer, Wilhelm & Schumann, Klemens & Andres, Michael & Vertgewall, Chris & Monti, Antonello & Schreck, Sebastian & Metzger, Michael & Jessenberger, Stefan & Klaus, Joachim & Brunner, Christoph & Heri, 2021. "A simulative framework for a multi-regional assessment of local energy markets – A case of large-scale electric vehicle deployment in Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    31. C. Simon Fan & Xiangdong Wei, 2006. "The Law of One Price: Evidence from the Transitional Economy of China," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 88(4), pages 682-697, November.
    32. Li, Jianglong & Lin, Boqiang, 2017. "Does energy and CO2 emissions performance of China benefit from regional integration?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 366-378.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Cheng, Xiaobin & Liu, Pengfei & Zhu, Lei, 2024. "The impact of electricity market reform on renewable energy production," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    2. Yi, Yuxin & Zhang, Liming & Du, Lei & Sun, Helin, 2024. "Cross-regional integration of renewable energy and corporate carbon emissions: Evidence from China's cross-regional surplus renewable energy spot trading pilot," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    3. Li, Lang & Luo, Nengsheng, 2025. "Is market integration conducive to carbon reduction? Evidence from Chinese cities," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1595-1611.
    4. Hou, Xinshuo & He, Yan & Liu, Xin & Li, Dongyang & Zhang, Shijie, 2025. "Market segmentation and urban energy consumption: An analysis of threshold effects from an agglomeration perspective," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    5. Feng Li & Guangdong Li & Weishan Qin & Jing Qin & Haitao Ma, 2018. "Identifying Economic Growth Convergence Clubs and Their Influencing Factors in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-21, July.
    6. Fuzheng Luo & Nengsheng Luo, 2020. "Inter-Provincial Market Fragmentation and Regional Economic Development in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Zheng, Yilin & Lu, Ming & Li, Jiewei, 2022. "Internal circulation in China: Analyzing market segmentation and integration using big data for truck traffic flow," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    8. Saileshsingh Gunessee & Cheng Zhang, 2022. "The economics of domestic market integration," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(4), pages 1069-1095, September.
    9. Cao, Jing & Ho, Mun S. & Ma, Rong & Zhang, Yu, 2024. "Transition from plan to market: Imperfect regulations in the electricity sector of China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(2), pages 509-533.
    10. Xixi Lin & Wenjing Shi, 2025. "Domestic Market Integration and Subsidies Provided by Local Government to Zombie Firms: Evidence from China’s City-Level Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-22, April.
    11. Elliott, Robert & Sun, Puyang & Zhu, Tong, 2020. "Shell shocked: The impact of foreign entry on the gasoline retail market in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    12. Herrmann-Pillath, Carsten & Libman, Alexander & Xiaofan, Yu, 2010. "State and market integration in China: A spatial econometrics approach to 'local protectionism'," Frankfurt School - Working Paper Series 137, Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
    13. Lin, Runzi & Xu, Zhenhui & Huang, Xiaoliang & Gao, Jinwu & Chen, Hong & Shen, Tielong, 2022. "Optimal scheduling management of the parking lot and decentralized charging of electric vehicles based on Mean Field Game," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    14. Zhen Wang & Xupeng Zhang & Chaozheng Zhang & Qing Yang, 2022. "How Regional Integration Affects Urban Green Development Efficiency: Evidence from Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-16, June.
    15. Liu, Qiongzhi & Li, Renke & Wang, Yuqin, 2024. "Digital finance and capital mobility: Evidence from cross-regional investment of listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    16. Li, Jianglong & Lin, Boqiang, 2017. "Does energy and CO2 emissions performance of China benefit from regional integration?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 366-378.
    17. Herrmann-Pillath, Carsten & Libman, Alexander & Yu, Xiaofan, 2014. "Economic integration in China: Politics and culture," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 470-492.
    18. Hengyun Ma & Les Oxley & John Gibson, 2008. "Testing for Energy Market Integration in China," Working Papers in Economics 08/12, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    19. He, Ruofan & Wan, Panbing, 2024. "Electricity market integration in China: The role of government officials’ hometown ties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    20. Xilu Qiu & Xinyi Jin & Shuiling Huang & Henglang Xie & Wei Zhao, 2025. "Market-incentive environmental regulation and total factor energy efficiency: evidence from China’s energy-consuming right trading pilot," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:asiaec:v:39:y:2025:i:2:p:217-244. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/eaeaaea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.