A Literature Review on Challenges and Solutions for Smart and Sustainable Urban Mobility

Urban mobility is undergoing a rapid transition driven by digitalization, electrification, and automation. However, current research remains largely fragmented across specific technological domains, obscuring the interactions required for city-scale deployment. To address this gap, we conducted a literature review (2018–2026) adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Using Google Scholar as an aggregate search engine, we screened and synthesized 162 peer-reviewed studies across four foundational pillars: intelligent transportation systems, resilient infrastructure, electric mobility, and autonomous/connected vehicles. The methodological evaluation of the literature reveals a prevalent overreliance on simulation models compared to large-scale field trials. Through a narrative synthesis of the selected studies, we derive a comprehensive five-layer conceptual framework that integrates the infrastructure, mobility, energy, digital, and governance layers. The findings indicate that scaling smart mobility is frequently constrained by institutional fragmentation and infrastructure rigidity, which often act as bottlenecks equal to or greater than technological capability. The review concludes by outlining targeted research priorities to guide the integration of sustainable urban mobility.