An integrated ANP-ELECTRE III decision model applied to eco-friendly car selection

Abstract

The number of green energy options in different fields is growing because of the need for reducing energy consumption and eliminating gas emission. One of these options is the use of eco-friendly cars produced by various manufacturers. Given the many available options and conflicting evaluation criteria, evaluation of such options becomes complex, and different multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approaches have been used to select the most suitable car in terms of eco-friendly car selection. Previous research has been somewhat limited with respect to consideration of interdependencies between evaluation criteria and multi-levels of preference. This paper proposes a new integrated MCDM approach with the capability for considering interdependent criteria for eco-friendly car evaluation and different levels of preference. An analytic network process (ANP) will be used to evaluate the levels of importance of interdependent criteria, and ELECTRE III will be modeled to include thresholds of preference. The introduced model, based on twenty-eight evaluation criteria, was demonstrated in a case study dealing with five alternative electric and hybrid cars. The results from this model were compared to a traditional decision-making method and better results were obtained from the model. The model can help users make proper decisions regarding their future car options in a comprehensive manner. Sensitivity analysis showed the robustness of the model under different setups.