DETERMINING THE QUALITY INDEX OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES

Abstract

Problem statement. The article presents theoretical studies of methods for assessing the quality indicators of electric and hybrid cars at the operation stage. Important criteria for assessing the quality indicators of such vehicles during operation are functional stability, environmental friendliness, comfort, technical solutions and traffic safety. The purpose of the article is to improve the efficiency of assessing the quality indicators of a car by quantifying them at the operation stage. The method of forming a quality indicator solves the problem of transforming a multi-criteria quality assessment task into a single-criteria one. The methodology for determining the quality index of electric and hybrid vehicles will improve the environmental safety of cars, which can be assessed by a comprehensive analysis of a number of technical and economic problems, including the patterns of toxic and carcinogenic substances’ formation, man-made air pollution, research on fuel and environmental performance of engines, and others. Assessing the quality of a car's environmental safety can be greatly simplified if the standard (Euro 6) is based on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of 0.06 g/km for gasoline and 0.08 g/km for diesel engines, and fuel consumption is assumed to be minimal. Vehicle safety is also characterized by braking performance, dimensions and the availability of additional options that ensure safe working conditions for the driver. The braking coefficient is taken as a general indicator of active safety, and the number of stars obtained in the EuroNCAP safety rating of the European program for testing the passive safety of serial passenger cars is taken as a passive safety indicator. A methodology for the practical implementation of the study based on the assessment of the quality indicator depending on the average speed of the car has been developed and the main methodological provisions have been formulated. Conclusion. It is established that the quality indicator of a car significantly depends on the operating conditions. The correction factors for the quality indicator of basic, hybrid and electric vehicles depending on their operating conditions are presented. The carried out research and the proposed car quality indicator provide timely information about the peculiarities of operating conditions, which creates the necessary conditions and opportunities for automakers to improve car design, improve the image of the car brand and increase sales. With an increase in the average speed of the car, the comfort criterion for all types of cars increases by 1.6−2 times, the criterion for assessing the environmental safety of basic cars decreases by 9−11 times, and hybrid cars, increases by 8−10 times.