Kevin Remmy, University of Mannheim

"Adjustable product attributes, indirect network effects, and subsidy design: The case of electric vehicles"

Abstract

This paper develops a structural model of endogenous product attribute choice in the presence of indirect network effects to study electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. Using data on the German EV market, I find that a support scheme doubled EV sales but substantially distorted the price and driving range of EVs. When designing subsidies, these distortions create a trade-off between optimizing different policy objectives. Large purchase subsidies maximize EV sales whereas large charging station subsidies maximize consumer and total surplus. The results suggest that maximizing EV sales can lead to unintended consequences in the form of price and range distortions.

Contact person: Anders Munk-Nielsen