Contributions of electric vehicles towards the sustainable development goals

Electric vehicle (EV) technology has garnered significant attention globally due to its enhanced performance efficiency and substantial contributions to tackling carbon emission issues. This paper discusses the contribution of EVs towards the SDGs concerning social, economic, and environmental impacts. The findings reveal that EVs substantially influence various SDGs, such as SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Case studies from diverse geographic and socioeconomic contexts are investigated to demonstrate real-world EV adoption strategies and their alignment with SDG targets. A SWOT analysis is conducted to critically assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats associated with EVs in relation to sustainable development, revealing that while EVs can strongly support many SDGs, they may simultaneously hinder progress on others depending on regional policies, energy sources, and infrastructure readiness. Furthermore, several challenges to the EV transition are identified, including inadequate charging infrastructure, high upfront costs, supply chain vulnerabilities, and energy mix limitations. To address these barriers, this study reviews existing policies and offers policy recommendations focused on improving public infrastructure, ensuring equitable access, and encouraging clean energy integration to ensure that EV deployment effectively supports the SDGs.