Low-energy optimisation: A methodology for integrating environmental considerations early in the vehicle engineering design process

A methodology is presented in which the trade-offs in energy between vehicle production, operational performance and end-of-life are formulated as a mathematical problem that may be optimised. The objective is to enable the consideration of life-cycle environmental impacts, through the proxy of life-cycle energy, in the very first stages of vehicle design, where it can be simultaneously balanced with other transport related functionalities. The methodology is illustrated through a simplified case study. The obtained optimisation results demonstrate that there is a unique driving-scenario-specific design solution, which meets functional requirements with a minimum life-cycle energy cost. The results also suggest that a use-phase focussed design may result in a solution, which is sub-optimal from a life-cycle point-of-view.