Cost and choice in future mobility: a comparison of electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine vehicles

Future mobility options, such as electric vehicles (EVs), have been growing in popularity in recent years. EVs may improve urban climates and provide affordable and flexible mobility throughout their lifespan. They benefit society by offering zero tailpipe emissions, superior comfort, low lifespan costs and enhanced connectivity. In this study, after identifying various aspects influencing vehicle purchases, we determined the total cost of ownership (TCO) and studied the average TCO for each vehicle type: EVs, internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Next, we employed a combination of two multi-criteria decision-making methods to rank EVs, ICEVs and HEVs across various pricing groups. The Best-Worst Method (BWM) was used to calculate the weights of each criterion, while the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution was employed to compute the ranking of the alternatives based on the BWM results. The ranking indicates that buyers should prioritize purchasing EVs, followed by HEVs, and then ICEVs, to enhance flexibility in their mobility.