FACTORS IN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY INTRODUCTION, SELECTION AND DEVELOPMENT

Hybrid technologies are attractive in the short to medium term for reasons apart from those usually provided. Some of these reasons are transient and/or soft factors. Others are knowledge driven or are competitive reactions to the market-place. This paper seeks to raise some less obvious issues that impact hybrid technology introduction, design and delivery from a vehicle manufacturer's (VM's) viewpoint. Effective hybrid system selection concerns conflicting factors. These involve customer expectation but also include the ability to meet brand requirements or enhance them so as to command higher value positions