Effects of new energy vehicle adoption on provincial energy efficiency in China: From the perspective of regional imbalances

The swift expansion of new energy vehicle (NEV) adoption in recent years presents a prospect for improving regional energy efficiency. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2020, this study analyzes the impact of NEV adoption on provincial energy efficiency from the perspective of regional imbalances. The conclusions are as follows. The NEV adoption significantly improves provincial energy efficiency and has a stronger contribution to the provinces with lower energy efficiency. Moreover, the NEV adoption can narrow inter-provincial energy efficiency differences, which is only valid in the power grid region, but not significant between the power grid regions. The potential mechanisms of inter-provincial electricity transmission and renewable energy development are verified. Finally, the extended analysis reveals that the government intervention negatively moderates the relationship between the NEV adoption and energy efficiency, while market integration plays a significant positive moderating role. These results provide useful references for the widespread adoption of NEVs to improve energy efficiency and regional coordinated development.