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Measuring the equity impacts of government subsidies for electric vehicles

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  • Caulfield, Brian
  • Furszyfer, Dylan
  • Stefaniec, Agnieszka
  • Foley, Aoife

Abstract

A shift to electric vehicles (EV) is seen as one of the main methods to decarbonise the transportation sector. However, issues have also been raised regarding charging infrastructure, EV reliability and range, as well as the battery environmental and social credentials. Notwithstanding governments, intergovernmental organisations, and research entities have ploughed ahead to promote this transition, but the challenge is the uptake and public acceptance. Grants and financial subsidies have been developed to facilitate this shift. Our study investigates the characteristics of the private EV household charger population using a regression model and spatial analysis to determine the influences of income, car ownership and economic status on EV take up rates. Data on the installation of EV household chargers are used in this paper as a proxy for EV ownership, due to data limitations. The results indicate that 1) urban areas are more likely to see higher concentrations of EV ownership, 2) an income and equity gap exists between those that have adapted electric mobility. This finding is very important because it suggests that lower income categories may have a financial barrier to shifting to EVs.

Suggested Citation

  • Caulfield, Brian & Furszyfer, Dylan & Stefaniec, Agnieszka & Foley, Aoife, 2022. "Measuring the equity impacts of government subsidies for electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:248:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222004911
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123588
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    4. Lowans, Christopher & Foley, Aoife & Del Rio, Dylan Furszyfer & Caulfield, Brian & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Griffiths, Steven & Rooney, David, 2023. "What causes energy and transport poverty in Ireland? Analysing demographic, economic, and social dynamics, and policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    5. Robert Michael Bridi & Marwa Ben Jabra & Naeema Al Hosani & Ahmed Hassan Almurshidi, 2024. "The Propensity to Adopt Electric Vehicles in the United Arab Emirates: An Analysis of Economic and Geographic Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-19, January.
    6. Johannes Mauritzen, 2023. "With great power (prices) comes great tail pipe emissions? \\ A natural experiment of electricity prices and electric car adoption," Papers 2304.01709, arXiv.org.
    7. Xin Ma & Hong Jiang & Lijuan Tong & Jingyi Zhang & Mengyuan Dong, 2023. "Sustainability of the New Energy Automobile Industry: Examining the Relationship among Government Subsidies, R&D Intensity, and Innovation Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-16, October.
    8. Joana Lage & Ana d’Espiney & Nuno Canha & Vítor Manteigas & José Luís Alexandre & Karla Gonçalves & Ricardo Chacartegui & Jesus Lizana & Yolanda Lechón & Ana Rosa Gamarra & Amaia Fernandez & Patrice B, 2022. "Mobility Patterns of Scholar Communities in Southwestern European Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Hopkins, Emma & Potoglou, Dimitris & Orford, Scott & Cipcigan, Liana, 2023. "Can the equitable roll out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure be achieved?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).

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