IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i12p5378-d1676434.html

Advancing Equity in China’s Vehicle Electrification

Author

Listed:
  • Qianqian Yan

    (School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Zhenhong Lin

    (School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
    Guangdong Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Laboratory, Guangzhou 510335, China)

  • Xiaotong Yin

    (School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Shiqi Ou

    (School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China
    Guangdong Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Laboratory, Guangzhou 510335, China)

  • Peiqun Lin

    (School of Future Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China)

  • Huanhuan Ren

    (China Automotive Technology Research Center, Tianjin 300300, China)

Abstract

Vehicle electrification should not be limited to specific geographical areas like wealthy or privileged regions. Recognizing this, China initiated the “NEVs going to rural areas” (NEVgoRural) initiative, highlighting the need for systematic metrics to quantify equity progress. This study develops a comprehensive analysis framework, including equality degree calculation, prevalence analysis, and correlation analysis, to assess and track China’s vehicle electrification process from 2020 to 2023. The equality degree calculation roughly evaluated the spatial inequality degree across China at the macro level. The results indicated that equality issues exist in China (Gini > 0.4, World Bank warning), and this inequality has been gradually improving year by year. The prevalence analysis, based on an Information Entropy Weighting-based model, identified specific geographical areas lagging behind. Furthermore, a correlation analysis was conducted to explore potential associations underlying this geographical inequity. The results revealed that variables, such as a high-level education ratio, NEV manufacturing company number, etc., were significantly correlated with the inequity situation. Drawing on these insights, this study proposed targeted strategies to enhance electrification equity across regions, such as extending NEV tax exemptions in lagging provinces, implementing rural-specific zero-down-payment and interest-free plans, establishing a robust rural sales and after-sales network, and improving mobile payment skills in rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Qianqian Yan & Zhenhong Lin & Xiaotong Yin & Shiqi Ou & Peiqun Lin & Huanhuan Ren, 2025. "Advancing Equity in China’s Vehicle Electrification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5378-:d:1676434
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5378/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/12/5378/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. McCauley, Darren & Heffron, Raphael, 2018. "Just transition: Integrating climate, energy and environmental justice," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 1-7.
    2. Yang Ju & Lara J. Cushing & Rachel Morello-Frosch, 2020. "An equity analysis of clean vehicle rebate programs in California," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2087-2105, October.
    3. Zhang, Mingming & Liu, Jinghui & Liu, Liyun & Zhou, Dequn, 2023. "Inequality in urban household energy consumption for 30 Chinese provinces," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    4. Yuval Arbel & Chaim Fialkoff & Amichai Kerner & Miryam Kerner, 2022. "Do population density, socio-economic ranking and Gini Index of cities influence infection rates from coronavirus? Israel as a case study," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 68(1), pages 181-206, February.
    5. Ou, Shiqi & Hao, Xu & Lin, Zhenhong & Wang, Hewu & Bouchard, Jessey & He, Xin & Przesmitzki, Steven & Wu, Zhixin & Zheng, Jihu & Lv, Renzhi & Qi, Liang & LaClair, Tim J., 2019. "Light-duty plug-in electric vehicles in China: An overview on the market and its comparisons to the United States," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 747-761.
    6. Caulfield, Brian & Furszyfer, Dylan & Stefaniec, Agnieszka & Foley, Aoife, 2022. "Measuring the equity impacts of government subsidies for electric vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C).
    7. He, Xuan & He, Sylvia Y., 2024. "Using mobile phone big data and street view images to explore the mismatch between walkability and walking behavior," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 180(C).
    8. Lerman, Robert I & Yitzhaki, Shlomo, 1985. "Income Inequality Effects by Income," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 67(1), pages 151-156, February.
    9. Jaguemont, J. & Boulon, L. & Dubé, Y., 2016. "A comprehensive review of lithium-ion batteries used in hybrid and electric vehicles at cold temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 99-114.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Scrocca, Andrea & Daccò, Edoardo & Andreotti, Diego & Rancilio, Giuliano & Bovera, Filippo & Falabretti, Davide & Delfanti, Maurizio, 2026. "Local flexibility markets in Europe: A critical review of market designs, operational maturity and stakeholder perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PD).

    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. Guo, Shuocheng & Kontou, Eleftheria, 2021. "Disparities and equity issues in electric vehicles rebate allocation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Shaw, Caroline & Tiatia-Seath, Jemaima, 2022. "Travel inequities experienced by Pacific peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    3. Francesco Rouhana & Amvrossios C. Bagtzoglou & Jin Zhu, 2025. "Bridging Vehicle-to-Home Technology and Equity: Enhancing Household Resilience for Disaster Preparedness and Response," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Kashour, Mohammad, 2023. "A step towards a just transition in the EU: Conclusions of a regression-based energy inequality decomposition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    5. McCauley, Darren & Pettigrew, Kerry, 2023. "Building a just transition in asia-pacific: Four strategies for reducing fossil fuel dependence and investing in clean energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    6. Hogan, Jessica L. & Warren, Charles R. & Simpson, Michael & McCauley, Darren, 2022. "What makes local energy projects acceptable? Probing the connection between ownership structures and community acceptance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    7. Tas, Emcet Oktay & Canpolat, Ezgi & Cole, Megan & Setyowati, Abidah Billah & Woodhouse, Jasminah, 2025. "Spatial Analysis of Coal Transition Vulnerability in Indonesia," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11188, The World Bank.
    8. Stéphane Mussard & Kuan Xu, 2006. "Multidimensional Decomposition of the Sen Index: Some Further Thoughts," Cahiers de recherche 06-08, Departement d'économique de l'École de gestion à l'Université de Sherbrooke.
    9. Van Uffelen, N. & Taebi, B. & Pesch, Udo, 2024. "Revisiting the energy justice framework: Doing justice to normative uncertainties," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    10. Das, Himadry Shekhar & Tan, Chee Wei & Yatim, A.H.M., 2017. "Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles: A review on power conditioning units and topologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 268-291.
    11. Thomas Dohmen & Hartmut F. Lehmann & Mark E. Schaffer, 2014. "Wage Policies of a Russian Firm and the Financial Crisis of 1998: Evidence from Personnel Data, 1997 to 2002," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 67(2), pages 504-531, April.
    12. Evânio M. Paulo & Osmar T. Souza, 2023. "Foreign Trade and Income Convergence in Latin America," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-19, September.
    13. Taylor, J. Edward, 1992. "Remittances and inequality reconsidered: Direct, indirect, and intertemporal effects," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 187-208, April.
    14. Bart Capéau & André Decoster & Bram De Rock & Jonas Vanderkelen, 2024. "Did Belgium withstand the storm of rising inequalities? Income inequality in Belgium, 1985–2020," Fiscal Studies, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 45(3), pages 285-308, September.
    15. Li, Yi & Liu, Kailong & Foley, Aoife M. & Zülke, Alana & Berecibar, Maitane & Nanini-Maury, Elise & Van Mierlo, Joeri & Hoster, Harry E., 2019. "Data-driven health estimation and lifetime prediction of lithium-ion batteries: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    16. Torregrosa-Hetland, Sara, 2016. "Sticky Income Inequality In The Spanish Transition (1973-1990)," Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 34(1), pages 39-80, March.
    17. Qiuqiong Huang & David Dawe & Scott Rozelle & Jikun Huang & Jinxia Wang, 2005. "Irrigation, poverty and inequality in rural China," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 49(2), pages 159-175, June.
    18. Hans Hellsmark & Viktor Rosenberg & Tuukka Mäkitie & Elin Folkesson, 2025. "Mapping hydrogen-related employment patterns: A multi-sectoral analysis of recruitment data in three Scandinavian countries," PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(10), pages 1-23, October.
    19. Tonni, Lorenzo, 2021. "Personal income distribution and the endogeneity of the demand regime," MPRA Paper 108298, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Ragab El-Sehiemy & Mohamed A. Hamida & Ehab Elattar & Abdullah Shaheen & Ahmed Ginidi, 2022. "Nonlinear Dynamic Model for Parameter Estimation of Li-Ion Batteries Using Supply–Demand Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:12:p:5378-:d:1676434. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.