RENEWABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION IN SMART TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGIES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Abstract

The rapid growth of urbanization, transportation demand, and environmental concerns has intensified the need for sustainable transportation systems worldwide. Transportation accounts for approximately 23–25% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, making it one of the largest contributors to climate change. Simultaneously, renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, hydrogen, and bioenergy have experienced significant advancements, creating new opportunities for their integration into smart transportation networks. Smart transportation networks leverage digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and advanced communication systems to improve mobility, efficiency, safety, and sustainability. The convergence of renewable energy systems with intelligent transportation infrastructure has emerged as a promising pathway toward achieving global sustainability goals and carbon neutrality targets. This study presents a systematic review of renewable energy integration in smart transportation networks, synthesizing recent developments from 2018–2026. Using a PRISMA-based review methodology, relevant literature was identified, screened, and analyzed from major academic databases. The review examines renewable energy-powered electric vehicles, smart charging infrastructures, vehicle-to-grid technologies, hydrogen mobility systems, renewable-powered public transportation, and intelligent energy management systems. The findings reveal that renewable energy integration significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, enhances energy efficiency, and supports grid resilience. However, challenges including infrastructure limitations, intermittency of renewable resources, cybersecurity concerns, regulatory barriers, and high initial investment costs continue to hinder large-scale deployment. The study develops a comprehensive framework highlighting the interaction between renewable energy sources, intelligent transportation technologies, and sustainability outcomes. Furthermore, future research directions are proposed, including AI-driven energy optimization, digital twins, blockchain-enabled energy transactions, autonomous electric mobility ecosystems, and integrated renewable microgrids. The findings contribute to both academic research and practical implementation by providing a comprehensive understanding of the technological, managerial, and sustainability implications of renewable energy integration in smart transportation systems. Keywords: Renewable Energy, Smart Transportation Networks, Electric Vehicles, Vehicle-to-Grid, Sustainable Mobility, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Energy Management