Hierarchical Decision Modeling (HDM) Applied to Alternative Powertrain Automobile Purchase

Over ten years ago, the decision to purchase a particular powertrain automobile was easy: one either chose gasoline or diesel, and gasoline was chosen over 98% of the time. Now there are two more marketable powertrain technologies available to consumers: hybrid and electric. Add this to the variety of other decisions that the average car purchaser has to make, and the implications are a dizzying array of choices. This paper attempts to alleviate those choices by utilizing the Hierarchical Decision Model along with pairwise comparisons that will assist a car purchaser to choose a powertrain technology that best fits their criteria. Whether the car purchaser is making the decision on his or her own, or with other important decision makers, the analytical decision tools will lead the purchasers to the right powertrain technology