A comprehensive review of electric vehicles: Integration of renewable energy, technological improvements, and future prospects

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming a key solution to sustainable transportation due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, and support renewable energy integration. However, the rapid growth of EV adoption introduces significant challenges related to charging infrastructure, battery technologies, energy management, and power grid integration. Motivated by the need for a comprehensive and unified understanding of these interconnected aspects, this paper presents an integrative review of the recent advances in EV technologies and renewable-energy-based charging systems. The review analyzes more than 100 publications from international journals and conferences, covering EV technologies, intelligent energy management, charging infrastructure, battery challenges, grid integration, and renewable energy penetration in different countries. The study also evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of integrating renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into EV systems. The findings reveal that high renewable energy penetration scenarios can significantly improve sustainability outcomes, with wind and solar contributing up to 30.86% and 26.45% of electricity production, respectively, while reducing CO 2 emissions by 22.5% and lowering operational costs by 12%. The review further highlights the economic and environmental advantages of EVs over conventional vehicles, while identifying critical challenges associated with battery lifespan, energy density, charging infrastructure, and grid stability. In addition, the paper discusses future research directions and policy recommendations to support large-scale EV deployment and sustainable transportation development.