Evaluation of electric vehicle power technologies

The evolution in power technologies from combustion engine to hybrid or pure electricity requires automakers to mobilize organizational capability as well as to change operational patterns. Conventional combustion engine, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and pure electric vehicles of various engineering designs are among the competing technological alternatives for the future. Given the situation, firms with heavy R&D investments in renewable vehicle energy face the dilemma to choose among these competing technologies. This research develops a technology evaluation model which incorporates technological factors and market criteria to facilitate decision making on allocating resources to various renewable power technologies for passenger vehicles. Using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the technology evaluation model was quantified by experts in Lithium-Ion batteries, Fuel Cell, Hybrid technologies as well as by consumer survey. Expert quantification ranks the technological alternatives in order of technological performances while consumer survey prioritizes user needs for the technological performances. The research should be able to help automakers and technological developers of electrical power effectively mobilize resources and deploy strategies for the future.