Sustainability in electric vehicles: a bibliometric analysis of life cycle assessment

Abstract

This bibliometric analysis delves into the intricate realm of sustainability within the life cycle assessments (LCAs) of electric vehicles (EVs). Our study navigates the vast body of literature to uncover the evolving landscape, emerging trends, and critical research areas concerning the environmental impact of EVs throughout their entire life cycle. By placing a strong emphasis on sustainability, this analysis sheds light on how EVs can significantly contribute to eco-friendly transportation solutions. A systematic search was conducted using the Web of Science database, covering publications from 2001 to 2023. The search strategy used a combination of keywords related to LCA and EVs. The study found a total of 161 publications that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed that the number of publications on LCA of EVs has been increasing steadily over the years, with a sharp rise in the last decade. The study identified the main research themes in the field, including LCA methodology, environmental impacts, energy use, and policy analysis. The analysis also highlighted the research gaps, such as the lack of studies on social impacts and the need for more comprehensive and comparative assessments. The findings of this study provide insights into the current state of research on LCA of EVs and can guide future research in this field.