The potential of electric vehicles and road systems for sustainable development in the GCC and NC regions: Opportunities, challenges and requirements

This study addresses a key research gap by providing a comparative analysis of how electric vehicles (EVs) and electric road systems (ERSs) contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG11) in two distinct regions: the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Nordic Council (NC). While previous research has often examined these regions separately, few studies compare their technological, policy, and infrastructure readiness for EV and ERS deployment. This study investigates the opportunities, challenges, and requirements for implementation in both regions through descriptive analysis based on questionnaire responses from 177 engineers—84 from the GCC and 93 from the NC—selected via random sampling. The results reveal that the GCC region views its potential to achieve SDG11 through EV and ERS integration as moderate, facing serious challenges and substantial infrastructure requirements, whereas the NC region reports higher readiness and moderate challenges. The findings underscore the need for significant investment in battery technologies and ERS infrastructure in both regions. This study recommends enhanced collaboration between the GCC and NC through shared standards, joint research, and technology exchange to accelerate the adoption of EV and ERS solutions as well as support sustainable urban development.