The integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the electricity grid through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology represents a promising opportunity to improve energy efficiency and stabilize grid operations in the context of building sustainable cities. This paper provides a systematic review of the literature to assess the status of the research and identify the road ahead. Using bibliometric analysis and systematic assessment, the critical factors that influence the charging behavior of electric vehicles, the adoption of V2G, and the effective use of EVs as dynamic energy resources are identified. The focus is particularly on the ecological transitions toward sustainability, travel characteristics, technical specifications, requirements, and barriers in real use, and the behavioral and psychological aspects of stakeholders. The results lay the foundation for accurate forecasts and the strategic implementation of V2G technology to support the needs of the electric grid. They emphasize the importance of considering the psychological and behavioral aspects of users in the design of V2G strategies and define the key factors to predict the demand for electric vehicle charging. Furthermore, they highlight the main barriers to V2G adoption, which are primarily related to concerns about battery degradation and economic issues. Privacy and security concerns, due to data sharing with electric vehicle aggregators, also limit the adoption of V2G. Addressing these challenges is essential for the successful integration of electric vehicles into the grid.

Urbanisation and the increasing concentration of populations in cities present significant challenges for achieving sustainable mobility and advancing the energy transition. Private vehicles, particularly those powered by internal combustion engines, remain the primary contributors to urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This situation has prompted the European Union to accelerate transport decarbonisation through comprehensive policy frameworks, notably the “Fit for 55” package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. These measures underscore the urgency of shifting towards low-emission transport modes. In this context, electric vehicles (EVs) play a key role in supporting Sustainable Development Goal 7 by promoting cleaner and more efficient transport solutions, and Sustainable Development Goal 11, aimed at creating more sustainable and liveable cities. Despite growing policy attention, the adoption of EVs remains constrained by users’ concerns regarding purchase costs, driving range, and the availability of charging infrastructure, as shown by the findings of this study. In this context, this study explores the determinants of EV adoption in Italy by employing a combined methodological approach that integrates a stated preference (SP) survey with discrete choice modelling. The analysis aims to quantify the influence of economic, technical, and infrastructural factors on users’ willingness to switch to EVs, providing insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to design effective strategies for accelerating the transition toward the sustainable mobility.

Urban freight and service operations represent a critical challenge for cities, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, congestion, and competition for curb space. In addition to parcel deliveries, many service trips combine transport with installation, maintenance, or packaging recovery, generating long vehicle dwell times and inefficient use of public space. This paper investigates alternative operational scenarios for such activities, evaluating technological and organizational options that can reduce their environmental and spatial impacts. The study compares a diesel LCV baseline with four zero-emission configurations: battery electric LCVs; battery electric LCVs integrated with micro-hubs and cargo e-bikes; hydrogen fuel cell LCVs for long-range operations, and hydrogen fuel cell LCVs combined with cargo e-bikes via micro-hubs. The methodological framework is based on a vehicle routing problem (VRP) formulation supported by empirical data from Rome. It integrates indicators of energy use, carbon emissions, and curb-side occupation, and it includes the spatial representation of routes on urban and inter-urban maps to highlight operational differences across the five scenarios. Results indicate that zero-emission vehicles can eliminate tailpipe emissions, while logistics reorganization through decoupling improves the use of public space and enables the recovery of packaging materials. Battery solutions appear best suited to short and medium distances, whereas hydrogen is advantageous for longer routes. Overall, the study shows that combining technological and organizational measures provides a robust pathway toward sustainable logistics and more efficient service operations in metropolitan contexts.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly becoming the main mobility option, with global sales in 2023 driven predominantly by China (60%), Europe (25%) and the United States (10%). This widespread adoption has intensified demand for EV batteries, which exceeded 750 GWh in 2023, marking a 40% year‐on‐year increase. As EVs expand in number, battery performance and reuse emerge as pivotal challenges in the transition to sustainable mobility. This study presents a systematic literature review focussing on the performance evaluation and life prediction of EV batteries, with a primary emphasis on lithium‐ion technology, which is the more common technologies. Using a bibliometric clustering approach by CiteSpace©, the review identifies key research domains and highlights critical gaps, especially the underrepresentation of real‐world usage conditions in performance models. This review integrates findings across diagnostic, modelling and field‐performance studies to propose a unified framework for evaluating EV battery performance under dynamic operating conditions. Findings reveal that while numerous diagnostic tools and modelling techniques exist, their applicability to dynamic operational contexts remains limited. The results aim to support future innovation in battery management systems (BMSs), second‐life strategies and potentially circular economy applications, providing both a scientific foundation and practical guidance for advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Using electric vehicles in urban freight distribution generates opportunities (e.g., zero emissions in urban areas) and challenges (e.g., range of electric vehicles). Their adoption implies that operators need to change the approach to freight distribution. As an example, the reduced range of an electric vehicle substantially reduces the kilometers traveled before a recharging stop. This implies a redefinition of routes, fleet size, personnel, and vehicle charging management. This research investigates the changes that operators must make when using shared charging hubs. Given the interest of logistic companies in reducing both their fixed and operating costs, the use of shared recharging hubs for electric vans and trucks constitutes a relevant applied research theme. This paper explores the pre-feasibility of some possible concrete scenarios. In more detail, the investigated scenarios involve charging hubs located in three different settings: at the depot, based on client distribution, and scattered across the area. The aim is to assess the performance of each scenario under the assumption that the position of the charging hub reflects the choices of operators on the usage of electric freight vehicles. The indicators considered for comparison are the delivery service time, the charging time and the number of routes.