Utilizing an integrated AHP-COPRAS approach for battery selection in electric vehicles

Abstract

Internal combustion engine vehicles provide better performance and longer-range using fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel. However, fossil fuels are non-renewable and cause environmental pollution, alternative fuels such as blends of ethanol and biodiesel, hydrogen etc have been sought for these vehicles. On the other hand, some researchers prefer to design alternative vehicles such as hybrid and electrical vehicles, instead of changing the fuel type. Among the studied topics for alternative vehicles, the battery is one of the most important components, especially in electrical vehicles. Batteries are diversified with different criteria such as battery life, nominal voltage, energy density, volumetric energy density, specific power, operating temperature, and production cost. In this study, the expert perspective was utilized when selecting the battery type to be employed for the energy source through utilizing the Integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) - Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS), a multi-criteria decision-making approach. Various batteries such as Lead-acid (Pb-acid), Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd), Ni-MH, Sodium Nickel Chloride (Zero Emission Battery Research Activity-ZEBRA), Lithium –Ion (Li-Ion) Battery were evaluated in terms of different criterion. Among the alternatives the Li-ion battery type is chosen as the best option and the Ni-Cd battery is the least chosen alternative.