A study found that the expansion of China’s high-speed rail network helped accelerate electric vehicle adoption by easing consumer concerns about driving range on long trips. Researchers analysed new and used car registrations in 328 Chinese cities from 2010 to 2023, comparing EV sales before and after rail connections while controlling for other factors. They estimated EV market share rose by an average 1.22 percentage points in connected cities, with larger effects over time.

The researchers focused on complementary effects between high-speed rail and EVs. If people can use rail for long-distance trips, it becomes easier to choose EVs that typically have shorter driving ranges for everyday use […]

Using the fact that high-speed rail connections came at different times across cities, it compared EV sales trends before and after connections and controlled for other factors such as local economies and industrial policy […]

Consumer purchasing patterns also changed. EVs sold after high-speed rail connections tended to have shorter maximum driving ranges, and the average transaction price fell by about 6.37 percent

The news doesnt link to the actual article, but I think it is this one:

High-speed rail and China’s electric vehicle adoption miracle (DOI)