Electric Mobility as an Innovation and Development Field: A Bibliometric and Patent-Based Analysis

Electric mobility is increasingly positioned as a key component in the energy transition strategy, generating a rapidly expanding body of scientific research and technological innovation. Existing studies have predominantly examined electric mobility through technological, infrastructural or policy-oriented perspective. A limited attention has been given to the relationship between scientific knowledge production, patent activity, and development conditions at a country or regional level.

This paper shows electric mobility as an innovation and development field through examining the interaction between scientific publications, patent activity, and selected macroeconomic indicators across countries. Using a combined bibliometric and patent-based dataset, the study applies correlation analysis to identify dominant patterns of innovation as well as development capacity. The analysis places specific emphasis on Central and Eastern Europe, a region characterized by shared institutional legacies but diverse economic and innovation scaling.

The outcomes suggest a strong alignment between the dimensions examined, suggesting the presence of a common underlying dimension of innovation and development capacity in electric mobility. Countries in Central and Eastern Europe show innovation structures comparable to those of more advanced economies, with observed differences driven by scale rather than by distinct innovation dynamics.

By adding a macro-structural and comparative approach, the paper brings empirical evidence to the literature on electric mobility and innovation systems. It improves understanding of regional innovation capacity in transition-oriented technologies and deliveres a structured basis for future research on policy design, infrastructure development, and innovation strategies in emerging European regions.