Selection of vehicle configuration: Based on weight and performance constraints

As part of the electrification of transportation sector, electric vehicles were the first to be developed, followed by the hybrid electric vehicles. The current study analyses the weights and performances of vehicles, with component sizes optimized to meet a common set of performance indexes. The battery pack in electric vehicles is observed to be 2-20 times heavier than the lightest vehicle of the same class. This paper finally presents a flowchart for general selection of vehicle configuration. The validity of the proposed algorithm is ascertained by analysing the performance and vehicle configurations of some vehicles already existing in the market.