Bibliometric Analysis NEV Purchase Intention: Past, Present and Future Trends

Purpose: This study aims to systematically map the intellectual structure and evolution of research on purchase intentions for new energy vehicles (NEVs). It uncovers thematic trends, key contributors, and emerging directions within this evolving field. Design/methodology/approach: A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database. Tools like VOSviewer enabled citation, co-citation, and co-word analyses of publications from 1982 to 2024 to visualize thematic clusters and identify leading journals, influential scholars, and country-level contributions. Findings: Sustainability, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Energy Policy emerged as the most influential journals in NEV research. Leadership has shifted from Western countries to China, reflecting changes in production, policy, and infrastructure. Three dominant co-citation clusters identified include external policy drivers, consumer behavioral factors, and methodological foundations, while four co-word clusters encompass information influence, technical performance, psychological mechanisms, and policy incentives. Originality: This study offers a multidimensional, data-driven synthesis of NEV purchase intention research, bridging technical and behavioral perspectives. It provides strategic insights for policymakers, manufacturers, and marketers, emphasizing critical areas for R&D investment and the need for integrated marketing and infrastructure strategies to accelerate NEV adoption. An updated agenda for future scholarship and policy intervention is also presented.