CUHK Study: High-Speed Rail Network Supercharges EV Adoption in China

New research from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Business School finds that China’s vast high-speed rail network has played a critical yet overlooked role in accelerating the country’s world-leading adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). The working paper provides novel insights on how an integrated transport network fuels green transition.

High-Speed Rail and China’s Electric Vehicle Adoption Miracle

The research is part of the NBER (National Bureau of Economic Research) Working Paper Series. Here are key insights from the paper:

• The expansion of China’s high-speed rail network contributes up to one-third of the increase in EV adoption between 2010 and 2023.
• High-speed rail eases consumers’ concerns about EVs’ limited battery power—known as “range anxiety”—allowing them to rely on EVs for short trips while turning to trains for long-distance travel.
• Synergies with subsidies, charging infrastructure, and supportive policies amplify the effect, creating a stronger foundation for sustainable transport.

EV Adoption Surge in China

China now accounts for nearly two-thirds of global EV sales and produces more than 70% of the world’s EVs. Another report by the International Energy Agency highlights that electric cars accounted for almost half of all China’s car sales in 2024.

While subsidies and industrial policies are often credited for this dominance, a new CUHK Business School study highlights another factor: the complementary relationship between EVs and high-speed rail.

Range Anxiety vs High-Speed Rail

“The expansion of the high-speed rail system is one of the main reasons for the increase in EV market share and sales in China,” says Zoe Yang Yang, Associate Professor of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at CUHK Business School. “Our data indicates that the high-speed rail connectivity can explain up to one-third of the total increase during our sample period.”

The study finds that one of the biggest hurdles for potential EV buyers is “range anxiety,” a fear that the car’s battery won’t last for the expected long trips. “The extensive and well-integrated network of China’s high-speed rail system serves as a reliable complement to EVs, alleviating range anxiety by offering an efficient option for medium to long-distance travel,” Professor Yang says.

Professor Yang’s research team analysed vehicle registration data from 2010 to 2023 across more than 300 Chinese Mainland cities. They found that EV adoption surged in cities gaining new high-speed rail connections.

“While the high-speed rail connection enhances early EV adoption by alleviating consumers’ range anxiety, the larger consumer base creates an agglomeration effect and further fosters the construction of charging stations, and the two jointly benefit future consumers,” Professor Yang says.

Global Lessons

The findings carry important lessons for global policymakers. “Whether it is high-speed railway, express bus systems or charging networks, the goal is to build confidence in the practicality of EV ownership, especially for users who still depend on long-distance mobility,” Professor Yang notes. “Infrastructure and technology adoption are deeply interconnected. Aligning the two can create powerful synergies that drive sustainable development.”

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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Chinese University of Hong Kong Business School

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CUHK Business School is a part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a forward-looking comprehensive research university. Established in Hong Kong in 1963, it was the first business school to offer BBA, MBA, and Executive MBA programmes in Asia.

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