POWER: Performance Optimization With Evaluated Results for HEV Battery Selection via MCDM‐TOPSIS

ABSTRACT The increasing transportation demands and environmental concerns in India necessitate the selection of optimal battery technologies for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). As the fifth‐largest car market globally, India faces rising vehicle demand, while the transportation sector remains a major contributor to air pollution. This study aims to identify the most suitable battery option for HEVs in India by considering performance, cost, and environmental impact. A multicriteria decision‐making framework based on the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution, supported by matrix laboratory validation, is employed to evaluate four widely used battery technologies: lithium‐ion (Li‐ion), nickel–metal hydride (Ni‐MH), lead‐acid, and nickel–cadmium (Ni─Cd). Key performance indicators, including electrical efficiency, specific energy, energy density, nominal cell voltage, energy per cycle, self‐discharge rate, specific power, cost per kWh, and durability, are incorporated into the analysis. The results consistently indicate that Li‐ion and Ni‐MH batteries outperform Pb‐acid and Ni─Cd batteries, with Li‐ion emerging as the most suitable option due to its superior energy density, specific energy, and low self‐discharge rate. The proposed framework provides a robust and reproducible decision‐support tool for HEV battery selection in India, supporting efficient vehicle performance and reduced environmental impact.