Electric Vehicle Charging Behaviour and Price Elasticities of Charging: An Analysis Using Swiss Data
Abstract: In this paper I scrutinize charging behaviour of electric vehicles using data from a Swiss public charging station provider. I find a high prevalence of idle charging especially among alternative current (AC) stations, where mean idle charging amounts to 4h. The low annual amount of electricity charged per customer (on average 351 kWh in 2021) translates into only 1755 km driven. I compute charging tariff elasticities using panel data methods and information on around 1,700 public charging stations located all over Switzerland and around 140,000 charging events for the time period 2019 to February 2022. Controlling for a number of station attributes such as the plug type, the power of the plug, the number of customers per station as well as for location, year, month and day fixed effects, the findings reveal that a 10% increase in prices per kWh reduces electricity demand per event by at least 1%. The equivalent increase in tariffs per minute reduces the duration of charging by around 21.5%. Furthermore, customers seem to misperceive complex tariff structures since their reaction is up to four times higher with respect to average charging event expenditure per kWh compared to marginal prices.(with Ivan Ackermann), Inequality of household energy expenditures- Analysis using European survey data. R&R Energy policy
Abstract: Policies to address climate change and the energy transition are increasingly gaining ground. However, a large body of research has mainly focused on the efficiency aspect of different instruments rather than their unintended side-effects. Only recently, both policymakers as well as researchers have started to emphasise equity aspects of these policies, since the acceptability of different measures also hinges uopn the redistributional implications. This paper contributes to the growing body of research on energy expenditure inequality in advanced economies by quantifying the regressivity of energy expenditures across 19 European Union countries for the years 2010, 2015, and 2020. We reveal a consistent pattern of regressive energy expenditures across all countries and time periods, with significant variability in the degree and regressivity observed. Our analysis highlights the importance of a nuanced approach to assessing energy expenditure inequality and tailoring suitable energy and climate policies, as countries with the highest or lowest shares of disposable income spent on energy do not necessarily align with those exhibiting the most pronounced regressivity. Tailored policy instruments are essential, particularly when addressing the needs of specific groups, such as low-income households dependent on fossil-based heating systems. However, if broader population segments are affected, more complex solutions may be necessary. We also examine the contributions of various socio-demographic factors to explaining energy expenditures inequality, finding that certain characteristics, such as household size or socio-economic status, contribute to a more even distribution of energy expenditures in the population. These insights suggest that policies aimed at reducing energy expenditure inequality may extend beyond income-based transfers to address the specific needs of different socio-demographic groups.