A Systematic Review of Electric Vehicle Optimization Problems: Taxonomy, Methods, and Research Challenges

The rapid integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into transportation systems and power grids has significantly increased the complexity of optimization challenges related to routing, charging coordination, scheduling, and energy management. Despite significant research growth, the field remains conceptually fragmented, lacking a unified framework to systematically organize Electric Vehicle Optimization Problems (EVOPs). To address this gap, this study presents a systematic review of 144 peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and January 2025 and proposes a structured EVOP taxonomy based on problem characteristics and dominant decision variables. The analysis examines mathematical formulations, solution methodologies, and emerging research trends. The results indicate the predominance of metaheuristic methods, while exact techniques are mainly limited to small-scale problems. Additionally, there is a growing trend toward multi-objective and stochastic models that incorporate uncertainty and dynamic decision-making environments. However, challenges remain regarding large-scale validation, standardized benchmarking, and integrated multi-domain modeling. The proposed taxonomy provides a coherent framework that facilitates comparison across optimization domains and supports the development of scalable and intelligent EV management systems.