The Chinese electric vehicle initiative has been framed in terms of climate goals and industrial growth for years. The country invested billions of dollars in subsidies, built the world's largest EV supply chain, and turned itself into the biggest electric car market on the planet.

China's rapid switch to electric vehicles cut urban air pollution enough to prevent an estimated 262,000 premature deaths, new study reports.

The Chinese electric vehicle initiative has been framed in terms of climate goals and industrial growth for years. The country invested billions of dollars in subsidies, built the…