Heuristic Design of Advanced Drives: Analysis of Tradeoffs in Powertrain Electrification

Consumer demand for fuel efficient, low-emission vehicles is growing. This trend is motivated on one hand by the increasing fuel cost and on the other by government incentives and increased awareness. By hybridizing and electrifying powertrains, fuel use may be reduced without a sacrificing drive quality or functionality. Manufacturers are introducing powertrain concepts that avoid asking drivers to compromise, other than with perhaps a slight increase in purchase price. Heuristic design methods are useful for quantifying trade-offs between key stakeholder criteria, particularly for new technologies.