What is the Key Technology and Where Should It Go for the Electric Vehicle Industry? A Social Network Model Research With the Case of China

This study uses social network analysis to explore the network of electric vehicle (EV) technological advancements, identifying key technologies and network characteristics. We construct a co-occurrence network based on China’s EV-related patent data from 1985 to 2022. Our analysis shows the EV patent network follows a power-law distribution and exhibits small-world properties. Then, we introduce the entropy-weighted TOPSIS model based on genetic algorithm to identify key technology nodes. This novel approach reveals H02J7/00 in the charging domain as a vital node, alongside significant technologies in electric control and battery domains, such as B60L3/00 (vehicle control), B60L15/20 (motor control), H01M10/0525 (lithium batteries), H01M10/613 (temperature control), and H01M10/42 (battery recycling). Practically, we identify the electronic control area as a hub of high connectivity, underscoring its pivotal role in enhancing network integration. This insight is essential for industry stakeholders targeting strategic innovation areas. In contrast, battery and motor technologies form more tightly knit clusters, indicating specialized domains of advancement. Furthermore, our analysis of the network’s evolution unveils a spiral development pattern, highlighting a cyclical progression centered around battery and electronic control technologies. This suggests that upcoming phases in EV development should prioritize the efficiency of charging technologies and the sustainability of batteries.