Integrating electric vehicles and renewable energy in modern power systems: A review of EV charging station design, control strategies, and emerging trends

The accelerating integration of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources (RESs) into modern power systems marks a critical step toward low-carbon, efficient, and resilient energy infrastructure. Central to this transition is the development of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs), which present various design, control, and operational challenges. This review offers a comprehensive evaluation of EV and RES integration, with a particular focus on EVCS infrastructure, power converter topologies, and system-level coordination. A bibliometric analysis of 1,725 Scopus-indexed documents from the past two decades was conducted using VOSviewer to uncover research trends, thematic clusters, and collaboration patterns. In parallel, technical aspects such as grid impacts, energy management models, charging strategies, and communication protocols are critically examined. The study further categorizes EVCS converter architectures and outlines key selection criteria based on application needs. Special emphasis is placed on interoperability standards, smart charging frameworks, and the deployment of intelligent, user-centric EVCS systems. While interest in this domain has grown rapidly, the review identifies persistent gaps in interdisciplinary innovation and the practical application of emerging technologies. Finally, the paper outlines future research directions in AI-driven optimization, grid control, hybrid energy storage, and real-time integration strategies. The findings aim to support researchers, engineers, and policymakers in advancing scalable, intelligent, and sustainable EV–RES-powered energy systems.