Purpose This study offers a review of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure scholarship, aiming to identify key publication trends, collaborative research networks, dominant thematic clusters and emerging future research directions. The paper contributes by mapping the conceptual and thematic evolution of EV infrastructure research to guide scholars, policymakers and industry stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method bibliometric and thematic content analysis was conducted using 498 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database spanning 2013–2024. Advanced techniques such as co-word analysis, conceptual structure mapping and thematic clustering were applied using the Bibliometrix R package. Additionally, a conceptual framework was proposed based on the diffusion of innovation and resource-based view theories. Findings The results reveal five core thematic areas: charging infrastructure and optimization, battery technologies and V2G systems, sustainability integration, policy and governance frameworks and behavioral dimensions of EV adoption. The study highlights evolving research areas including blockchain-enabled charging, charge scheduling under uncertainty, electromobility governance and lifecycle environmental assessments. Country collaboration analysis reveals strong ties between China, the USA and the UK, underscoring global cooperation. Future research directions emphasize the need for user-centered infrastructure planning, integrated optimization models and adaptive energy management frameworks. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to Scopus-indexed publications and excludes non-journal sources such as conference proceedings and books. Future research may expand the dataset across other databases and adopt systematic review methods to delve deeper into specific themes. Practical implications The study provides actionable insights for EV manufacturers, infrastructure developers and service providers. Recommendations include prioritizing fast-charging infrastructure, adopting blockchain for transaction security and aligning with circular economy principles in battery usage and recycling. Social implications By enhancing charging infrastructure and addressing range anxiety, the findings support increased public acceptance of EVs. Broader adoption may contribute to urban sustainability, reduced carbon emissions and improved public health outcomes. Originality/value This is one of the first comprehensive bibliometric and thematic syntheses focused specifically on EV charging infrastructure. The proposed conceptual framework and detailed future research agenda offer novel contributions to advancing sustainable mobility research and practice.
Prakhar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.