New Energy Vehicles and Charging and Battery-Swapping Infrastructure: Development Patterns, Policy Drivers, and the Evolution of Vehicle–Grid Interaction

The rapid expansion of electric mobility is reshaping both transport infrastructure and power-system operation. This narrative and critical review examines the connected evolution of new energy vehicle (NEV) markets, charging and battery-swapping infrastructure, policy mechanisms, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems. In this paper, NEV includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs); conventional non-plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are discussed only where regional statistics require clarification. Peer-reviewed studies, official statistics, policy documents, market reports, and technical standards available through June 2026 are synthesized thematically and compared across China, Europe, the United States, and selected emerging markets. The review distinguishes verified 2025 observations from scenario-based projections, evaluates policy instruments by their outcomes and limitations, and extends the V2G discussion to bidirectional charger requirements, interoperability, aggregation, DSO-TSO coordination, battery degradation, cybersecurity, and economic viability. Unlike reviews centered on a single technology or region, the proposed market–infrastructure–policy–V2G framework explains how market structure, infrastructure governance, standards, and electricity-market design jointly shape commercialization pathways. The synthesis indicates that infrastructure scale alone is insufficient: utilization, grid hosting capacity, interoperable communication, credible revenue stacking, and equitable access determine whether charging, battery swapping, and V2G can deliver system-level value.