Electric Vehicles in Last-Mile Delivery: A Bibliometric Review

The rapid growth in e-commerce calls for research on the potential of electric vehicles in improving last-mile delivery. Whereas existing studies have examined aspects of last-mile delivery, such as challenges, acceptance/benefits, and feasibility, the studies are fragmented, with conflicting findings and regional differences. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the studies to map out current research trends and propose future research agendas. To address this research gap, a bibliometric review was conducted on 375 publications from the Scopus database. Findings reveal that pioneering countries such as the USA have researched integrating electric vehicles into last-mile delivery systems, focusing on technological advancements such as battery technologies and smart grids. The sustainability theme is common in most studies, focusing on controlling carbon emissions and energy efficiency. The electric micro-mobility theme has grown in recent years, while emerging technologies remain underexplored, especially in developing economies. Future research should address the underexplored areas. These include charging infrastructure optimisation, electric micro-mobility innovations, and integration in urban environments, alongside the social and ethical implications of electric vehicle adoption for last-mile delivery.