Smart Charging for E-Mobility in Urban Areas: A Bibliometric Review

Eric Mogire (), Peter Kilbourn and Rose Luke
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Eric Mogire: Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa), University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Peter Kilbourn: Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa), University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa
Rose Luke: Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management, Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa), University of Johannesburg, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: The significant rise of electric vehicles in urban areas calls for research on smart charging to promote electric mobility. Existing research is fragmented, with inconsistent findings, focusing on single aspects of smart charging, such as challenges, charging technologies, and sustainability concerns. Thus, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to identify the key themes and propose future research agendas on smart charging for electric mobility in urban areas, to guide policy formulation and promote widespread uptake of electric vehicles. A total of 201 publications covering the period 2005 to 2025 were extracted from the Scopus database; the first was published in 2011 and numbers peaked in 2024, with 39 publications. The topic is young, with an average age per publication of 4.17 years, with China as the top-ranked country, with 97 publications. Research on smart charging for e-mobility in urban areas focuses on four key themes: smart charging technologies and optimisation strategies, grid integration and vehicle-to-grid systems, renewable energy and environmental sustainability, and urban mobility systems and infrastructure development. Despite their importance, real-world testing and smarter integration with cities and grids remain largely underexplored, especially in developing countries. Future research should focus on large-scale vehicle-to-grid integration, user behaviour analysis, and coordinated planning of smart charging with urban transport and policy frameworks.

Keywords: smart charging; intelligent charging; electric mobility; e-mobility; electric vehicle; urban area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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