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Fiscal Incentives and the Spatial Concentration of Battery Electric Vehicles in Portugal: A Network Approach

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  • Bento Maria

Abstract

This paper investigates the spatial concentration of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) across Portuguese municipalities and examines how fiscal incentives are associated with that concentration. Using municipality-level data on BEV registrations, population, density, charging infrastructure, and local parking incentives, this paper combines loglinear modelling, rank-size analysis, and network analysis. Municipalities are represented as nodes in a complete network constructed from geographical distances. A minimum spanning tree is used to identify the connectivity threshold required to keep all municipalities connected. Such a threshold is used to move from a complete network to a sparse one, to which centrality measures are computed. The analysis provides descriptive evidence on whether BEV adoption is concentrated in larger, denser, better connected, and better equipped municipalities. The results contribute to the understanding of spatial inequalities in electric mobility adoption in Portugal and highlight the importance of considering network analysis when evaluating fiscal incentives.

Suggested Citation

  • Bento Maria, 2026. "Fiscal Incentives and the Spatial Concentration of Battery Electric Vehicles in Portugal: A Network Approach," Working Papers REM 2026/0420, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, REM, Universidade de Lisboa.
    • Handle: RePEc:ise:remwps:wp04202026
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    File URL: https://rem.rc.iseg.ulisboa.pt/wps/pdf/REM_WP_0420_2026.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models

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