Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. X, No. Y, xxxx 1 Copyright © 20XX Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Evolution of the complex nature of electrical vehicles Artemio Chávez* and Arturo Lara Programa de Estudios sobre Complejidad, Cognición e Instituciones (PECCI), Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04960, Ciudad de México, Mexico Email: artemio79@hotmail.com Email: alararivero35@gmail.com *Corresponding author Abstract: As part of the new institutional economics (Ostrom, 1990, 2005) and complex systems (Holland, 2006), we use network theory (Watts, 1999; Clauset et al., 2004) to describe the evolution of electric vehicle technology, which has grown from a relatively disconnected network to a hierarchically connected network in which the technological system is organised into subsystems by a simultaneous process of integration and modularisation (Baldwin and Clark, 1999). Methodologically, we show that analysis of technology classes by network theory is a suitable tool for analysing the evolution of the complex nature of electric vehicles. Keywords: electric vehicle; technologies; intellectual property rights; patents; integral design; modular design; networks. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Chávez, A. and Lara, A. (xxxx) ‘Evolution of the complex nature of electrical vehicles’, Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management, Vol. X, No. Y, pp.000–000. Biographical notes: Artemio Chávez is Professor and researcher for curriculum at the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM). He is a PhD student in Economics Sciences at the UAM, a Master in Economics and Innovation Management at UAM, Xochimilco and an Economist at UAM Azcapotzalco. He is a member of the Study of Complexity, Cognition and Institutions Program (PECCI), UAM, Xochimilco. His research interests are: complex systems, evolution institutions anti-common technological innovation and intellectual property. Arturo Lara is Professor and researcher at the UAM, Xochimilco. He is a member of the National System of Researchers (Level III) and a PhD in Social Sciences from the College of Mexico. He is a founding member of Complexity Studies Program, Cognition and Institutions (PECCI), UAM, Xochimilco. His research interests include the philosophy of complexity, adaptive agent and cognition in institutional and evolutionary theories, adaptive evolution, cooperative learning and complex systems; the evolution of complex technological systems (automotive). This paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled ‘Complexity, intellectual property and the evolution of the electric vehicles’ presented at 22nd International Colloquium of GERPISA, Kyoto, 4–6 June 2014.