Bibliometric Analysis of Electric Vehicles and Sustainability: Trends, Insights, and Future Directions

Abstract

EVs are increasingly at the forefront of academic and policy attention in the rush to sustainable transportation. This research offers a detailed bibliometric study of EV and sustainability research to explore its intellectual architecture, trends, and opportunities for future research. This study employs 593 publications (2016-2025), with descriptive bibliometric analysis, thematic mapping, and network analysis to explore trends, leading sources, co-operation, and key research topics in this field. The results show a strong growth in research, given an annual growth rate of 28.20% is expected to reach its highest in the period 2024-2025, which reflects a growing interest worldwide. Major contributions are published in top journals, including the Journal of Cleaner Production, while at the country level, significant collaboration is observed around China and the United Kingdom. Key themes reflect an evolution from basic themes like sustainability and electric vehicles to advanced themes like decarbonization, circular economy, and infrastructure transition. Through the application of the TCCM Framework, the study highlights research gaps such as a lack of theoretical and geographical diversity (mainly developed economies) and a preference for cross-sectional research designs. The study contributes by outlining a research framework focusing on multi-theoretical perspectives, the inclusion of developing economies, and the incorporation of longitudinal and mixed methods studies. These findings offer key insights for academics, policymakers, and industry leaders to facilitate sustainable mobility transitions.