Mapping innovation pathways and future potential of electric cars: Insights from patent data analysis

The global push to mitigate climate change and advance sustainable transport has intensified the transition away from fossil-fuel-based mobility. Electric cars have therefore become central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting low-carbon development. Yet the technological landscape underpinning electric cars is insufficiently mapped, limiting understanding of their innovation pathways. This study addresses this gap through a comprehensive patent analysis of 87,548 patents employing Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling methodology to explore the latent technological patterns. Seven core technological domains are identified: electric car structures and design, electric power control, electric car charging methods and infrastructure, battery technology and power supply, intelligent control systems, electric vacuum pumps, and electric drive systems. To assess each domain's current lifecycle stage and future trajectory, forecasting models (Logistic, Gompertz, and Richards) were applied to cumulative patent counts, revealing that foundational domains are approaching saturation while intelligent control systems and electric drive systems still exhibit substantial growth potential. These insights can support researchers, industry, and policymakers in strengthening strategic decisions that accelerate sustainable, efficient, and low-carbon transport development. • A patent analysis of electric cars technologies is performed • Seven key technologies emerge from a topic modelling of 87,548 patent families • Innovation hotspots include intelligent control systems, charging methods, and vacuum pumps • The analysis demonstrates China's preeminence in electric car patents and its market share • State-owned enterprises (e.g., State Grid Corp.) drive innovation through robust collaborative networks with subsidiaries