Integrating continuous fuzzy Kano model and fuzzy quality function deployment to the sustainable design of hybrid electric vehicle

Abstract

Sustainable design is the theme of society at present. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has higher fuel economy because of the assistant of electric motors. Customers’ psychological preferences can be satisfied through sustainable design of HEV, which can reduce environmental pollution and enhance customers’ desire to buy. However, the emotional needs of customers are often subjective and imprecise. Therefore, this paper makes a study on the sustainable design of HEV by combining continuous fuzzy Kano model (C-FKM) and fuzzy quality function development (QFD). Firstly, the emotional semantics related to HEV are identified by focus interviews and the C-FKM is used to directly quantify the importance of these emotional indicators. Secondly, the design elements of HEV are deconstructed by morphological analysis and the information entropy is used to screen out the key design elements that have a significant impact on customers’ satisfaction. Finally, the incidence relation between emotional semantics and key design elements is established by fuzzy QFD, thus obtaining the final weight of key design elements from the viewpoint of triangular fuzzy number. The research result provides guidance for sustainable design of enterprises in the HEV development stage, which not only reduces environmental damage, but also increases the social awareness and sales of HEV.