Mapping the Global Landscape of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research: A Scientometric Analysis of Publication Trends, Collaboration Networks, and Thematic Evolution (2020-2024)
Vikram Mobarsha, M Suresh Babu
International Journal of Information Studies, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6025/ijis/2026/18/3/95-118
Link: https://www.dline.info/ijis/fulltext/v18n3/ijisv18n3_1.pdf
Abstract:
This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of global research on Plug in Hybrid Electric
Vehicles (PHEVs) from 2020 to 2024. Utilizing bibliographic metadata from 431 open access journal articles
indexed in the Scopus database, the research maps publication trajectories, key contributors, collaborative
networks, and thematic evolution. Analytical tools, including Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and statistical
modelling, were employed to assess productivity, citation impact, co-authorship patterns, and keyword cooccurrence.
Findings reveal fluctuating yet sustained growth in scholarly output, peaking in 2022, followed
by a temporary decline in 2023 and a recovery in 2024, indicating a dynamic and policy sensitive research
domain. China, the United Kingdom, and the United States emerge as the leading national contributors, with
Chongqing University and Kunming University of Science and Technology dominating institutional
productivity. Co-authorship and bibliographic coupling analyses highlight semi-centralized collaboration
networks characterized by distinct interdisciplinary clusters focused on battery optimization, energy
management, and charging infrastructure. While publication output demonstrates moderate geographic
and institutional concentration, author level productivity remains relatively distributed. The citation network
underscores the pivotal role of multidisciplinary journals like Energies and IEEE Access in shaping scholarly
discourse. Overall, PHEV research is transitioning from a specialized niche into a globally interconnected,
multidisciplinary field. The study concludes by recommending future investigations integrate patent data,
funding mechanisms, and longitudinal comparisons with full electric vehicles to better inform sustainable
transportation policy and technological innovation.