Reinventing solar mobility: A meta-analysis and innovation synthesis of PCM-based PV cooling for EV charging deployment

The rapid increase in electric-vehicle (EV) adoption across emerging economies is challenged by weak-grid conditions, high ambient temperatures, and limited investment capacity, making conventional charging infrastructure economically and operationally constrained. Phase Change Materials (PCM) integrated into photovoltaic (PV) systems offer a promising thermal-management solution to enhance solar-powered EV charging performance under these conditions. This review employs a combined bibliometric analysis, PRISMA-guided systematic screening, and meta-analysis of 50 high-quality studies published between 2015 and 2025. Random-effects modeling, meta-regression, and cross-study thematic synthesis were employed to evaluate the thermal behavior of PCM, PV efficiency gains, techno-economic feasibility, policy interactions, and innovation ecosystem readiness. Results indicate that PCM cooling achieves an average PV temperature reduction of 24–28 °C, resulting in a 7% efficiency improvement and an 11% increase in electrical output, with low heterogeneity in electrical metrics. Techno-economic comparisons show declining global costs for PV, storage, and PCM materials, improving the financial viability of integrated solar–storage–PCM charging systems. However, adoption remains limited by high capital risk, weak policy feedback mechanisms, and fragmented innovation ecosystems across emerging markets. The analysis demonstrates that technical feasibility alone is insufficient without supportive business models and enabling regulatory frameworks. In conclusion, PCM-enhanced PV systems represent a robust thermal-management strategy with clear performance and economic benefits for solar-powered EV charging. Scalable deployment requires an integrated policy design, investment de-risking instruments, localized value chain development, and long-term empirical validation. • PCM cooling reduces PV temperature by 24–28°C, improving efficiency by ∼ 7%. • Solar-storage-PCM charging boosts energy output by 11% in high temperatures. • Techno-economic study shows batteries (39.6%) as the main cost drivers. • Emerging markets need strong policies to tackle high investment risks. • Global EV-solar market projected to grow at 37.36% CAGR, led by Asia Pacific and Africa.