Quantification concept for vehicle packaging

The limited installation space in the vehicle presents a challenge within the framework of the total vehicle design already in the phase of predevelopment. The complexity increases because of additional new components and systems, and the question of their integration into the vehicle as a whole increases this challenge. As a result, the objective appears to be a quantification of possible package variations in order to determine an optimal solution from both the technical and economical as well as the customer’s point of view. Factors influencing the packaging in the design of the complete vehicle are the design features like the vehicle concept including the dimensional concept and ergonomic requirements. The functionality of the system to be integrated has also be a given as well as the function of the entire vehicle. Requirements in regards to service, production capability of possibly already existing facilities and costs are other factors influencing the package design. The assessment model introduced in this paper includes five model groups: design, function, system, costs and market. These are further divided into main- and subgroups each, which eventually define the valuation parameters that are used to determine the overall grading of the vehicle package. This allows an overall package quantification.