Mapping electric vehicle adoption paradigms: A thematic evolution post sustainable development goals implementation

Abstract

This study assesses the worldwide research trajectories of the Scopus-indexed literature on electric vehicle adoption spanning three decades. Employing the five-phase framework proposed by Zupic and Carter (2015) and utilizing the Vosviewer and Biblioshiny software, the research analyses the intellectual and social networks within the literature. The analysis of international collaboration reveals a strong regionalization in the domain, evidencing the limited collaboration between developed and developing countries. The thematic map illustrates the emerging focus on the key themes, including battery charging, environmental concerns, and transportation infrastructure in the realm of electric vehicles. Co-citation analysis further illuminated four clusters, shedding light on the prominence of monetary incentives, consumer behavioral factors and the necessity of charging infrastructure for speedy electric vehicle uptake. The study exhibits novelty by illustrating theme-based cluster analysis, distinguishing trends before and after the introduction of UN sustainable development goals. The study provides a roadmap for future researchers by identifying the prominent, emerging and niche themes, especially post-2015, which can be explored in greater depth. The findings of the study offer valuable insights for the policymakers and marketers aiming to accelerate the electric vehicle uptake by revealing the crucial role of monetary incentives and charging infrastructure.