Inter-provincial emissions transfer embodied in electric vehicles in China

The electrification of transportation is necessary to reduce emissions, especially in China. However, it remains unclear whether, and where, promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) can reduce emissions. This study uses a network model to track the transfer of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other pollutant emissions from EVs in each province of China. Provinces that export large amounts of electricity and have high emission intensities bear the burden of emissions due to electricity consumption by EVs in other provinces. Promoting the use of EVs helps reduce NOx nationwide as well as the volumes of GHG and PM2.5 emissions in most provinces of China. Emissions transfer due to EVs clarifies the disadvantages of reducing emissions in provinces that export a large amount of electricity. Therefore, the environmental pressure imposed on electricity exporting regions due to emissions transfer from EVs should be considered when designing related incentive policies.