A comprehensive review and research agenda on the adoption, transition, and procurement of electric bus technologies into public transportation

Abstract

Despite the global momentum toward transportation electrification, there is still a notable lack of comprehensive literature specifically addressing the electrification of bus transit systems in public transportation. In this study, we conduct an extensive review of 458 peer-reviewed articles published over the past three decades (2004–2024) that focus on the electrification of bus transportation. This review follows the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) methodology. Additionally, it is structured using the Antecedents, Decisions, Outcomes (ADO) framework and the Theories, Contexts, and Methods (TCM) framework to organise content and shape a future research agenda. This article contributes significantly by synthesising existing knowledge, identifying gaps in current understanding, and offering directions for future research. The antecedents are classified into four categories: stakeholder, situational, contextual, and psychological factors. The decisions surrounding electrification are analysed in terms of intentions to adopt, transition, procure, and use electric buses. Moreover, the outcomes of electrification are thoroughly examined from environmental, economic, social and infrastructural perspectives. Our study offers valuable insights for policymakers and researchers, deepening the understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the electrification of public bus transportation.