Despite the pandemic, global sales of electric vehicles (EVs)increased by 43% in 2020.
This was quite a surprise, as Chinese consumers have traditionally preferred larger models withinternal combustion engines.
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China aims to reach a peak in its carbon emissions before 2030 and achievecarbon neutrality by 2060.
But those subsidies are nowdrying up.
This matters not only for China but the rest of the world.
But consumers in small cities each with fewer than a million residents were the most keen to drive EVs.
People there tend to care more about how well the vehicle works and the environmental benefits of EVs.
Prior research revealed that these consumers areless likely to buy an EVif its the more expensive option.
Larger cities in China commonly implementcar plate lotteriesthat limit the number of petrol cars licensed each year.
Buy, lease or share EVs?
We found that it didnt matter to drivers whether they rented their battery or completely owned the car.
Separating EV bodies and batteries can even make driving them more sustainable.
Theyre charged for using the EV by the minute.
