The influence of policy incentives on the diffusion of battery-swapping taxis and stations: a coupled evolutionary game model in complex networks.

Adopting the battery-swapping approach for new energy taxis may help to reduce energy consumption, cut emissions, and improve the functionality of urban taxis. However, the interplay between corresponding subsidy policies and the diffusion of battery-swapping stations (BSSs) and battery-swapping taxis has yet to be thoroughly researched. This study establishes a coupled evolutionary game model based on complex networks, and conducts simulation experiments using real data to analyze the impact of policy incentives on the diffusion. Results indicate that: (1) The promotion effect of dynamic construction subsidies is similar to that of static subsidies under the same subsidy amount, but dynamic subsidies can improve the economic feasibility of diffusion, while easing the financial pressure on the government. The government can consider implementing dynamic construction subsidies and use the saved fiscal budget to increase the amount of operating subsidies; (2) Increasing operating subsidies and sales electricity prices can promote the growth. The government needs to control the cost electricity price and sales electricity price in the market to ensure the healthy development of the battery swap market. At the same time, it should give BSSs appropriate independent pricing rights and gradually seek to electricity exchange prices suitable for various cities. (3) There is a threshold for the network scale N. The impact on the diffusion is completely different before and after the threshold. During the diffusion process, it is necessary to strengthen the information exchange of energy station nodes to avoid the occurrence of information islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]