Enhancing Sustainable Street Food Mobility: A Systematic Review of Solar-Powered Electric Bicycle Technologies for Low-Emission Meatball Cart Transportation

Abstract

The street food sector plays a significant role in supporting urban micro-economies, particularly in developing countries, yet its mobility systems remain largely inefficient and environmentally unsustainable. Mobile meatball vendors commonly rely on human-powered carts or fossil fuel-based vehicles, leading to high physical workload, limited operational range, and increased emissions. This study aims to systematically review the development and applicability of solar-powered electric bicycle technologies for low-emission meatball cart transportation. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach was employed, following PRISMA guidelines, to collect and analyze relevant studies published between 2016 and 2026 from major scientific databases. The review focuses on key aspects including powertrain architecture, photovoltaic (PV) integration, energy management, and auxiliary load requirements. The findings indicate that mid-drive motor configurations are more suitable for heavy-load, low-speed applications due to their superior torque and efficiency. PV systems, while beneficial, function primarily as supplementary energy sources due to limited surface area and environmental constraints such as shading. Additionally, effective energy management is critical, especially in balancing propulsion and auxiliary loads such as heating systems, which significantly impact total energy consumption. The study also identifies major research gaps, including the lack of integrated system design and limited focus on real-world street food applications. In conclusion, solar-powered electric bicycles present a promising solution for sustainable street food mobility, provided that system integration and operational requirements are carefully addressed.