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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
“Coal-to-Oil Substitution”: New Energy Vehicles
and Electricity Carbon Emissions – Based on
“Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles” Pilot Project
1
Zhengzhou Business University, Zhengzhou, China
2
School of Economics, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
3
Henan Academy of Social Sciences, Zhengzhou, China
4
Wuxi Institute of Technology, Wuxi, China
5
Central China Development Research Institute, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
6
School of Politics and Public Administration, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Submission date: 2024-12-30
Final revision date: 2025-06-04
Acceptance date: 2025-08-23
Online publication date: 2025-12-03
KEYWORDS
new energy vehiclesnegative environmental externalitieselectricity carbon emissions“Ten CitiesThousand Vehicles” pilot projectDID model
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study analyzes the impact of New Energy Vehicle (NEV) promotion on electricity sector
carbon emissions using panel data from 50 Chinese cities (2006-2020) and a multi-period DID model.
NEV promotion, while reducing transportation sector emissions, has increased carbon emissions
in the electricity sector due to reliance on coal-based power generation. Results indicate that
(1) In “Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles” pilot cities, NEV adoption increased power sector carbon
emissions by an average of 1.19%. Furthermore, the “Ten Cities, Thousand Vehicles” plan generated
significant spatial spillover effects, elevating power sector emissions in neighboring regions.
(2) Through China’s “West-to-East Power Transmission” project reveals that the use of electricity by
NEVs also places carbon reduction pressure on the power generation sector. This pressure can shift
through local and cross-regional electricity transmission, thereby creating a “regional transfer” effect
of carbon emissions; (3) Mechanism analysis indicates that NEV usage increases regional electricity
demand and fossil energy consumption while synergistically enhancing regional renewable energy
technological innovation. Policy implementation has also accelerated advancements in “three-electric
systems” (battery, motor, electronic control) and V2G technologies, which improve NEV energy
efficiency though require further refinement; (4) Under policy synergies between NEV demonstration
cities and low-carbon city initiatives, NEV promotion effectively mitigates carbon emission transfers
to power sectors while amplifying environmentally positive externalities. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the negative environmental externalities of NEV promotion, offering
a new perspective on NEV development.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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