Work

Replacement of internal combustion engine vehicles by electric vehicles in Chinese ridesharing markets

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Increasing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution have motivated the search for sustainable transportation alternatives. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a promising solution, yet their potential to replace internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in high-utilization ridesharing fleets remains insufficiently understood. This study analyzes data from a major ridesharing platform in Beijing, comparing EVs and ICEVs across car-sharing and private car-hailing modes. We find that at the driver level, EVs and ICEVs demonstrate comparable order completion in car-sharing, while EVs exhibit significantly lower daily mileage. Order-level regression analysis reveals that EVs, in private ride-sharing, exhibit a higher propensity to complete long-distance orders. We also find that mainstream 2015 EVs could cover the majority of daily ICEV travel patterns, with higher substitutability in car-sharing. These findings provide a benchmark for evaluating progress in the ongoing electrification of shared mobility.

Source: npj Sustainable Mobility and Transport

DOI: 10.1038/s44333-026-00099-z

Authors: Xusen Cheng, Yanyue Ran, Martin Kesternich, Jiansuo Pei, Tianzi Wang

Institutions: Renmin University of China, Centre for European Economic Research, University of Augsburg

Language: English

Topic: Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,590