Warwick Manufacturing Group has developed a hybrid “decision support tool” (DST) and a hybrid simulator called Warpstar to help users and manufacturers to be better informed about hybrid technology.

The tool models the hybrid vehicle market and supports understanding and development of the business case for hybrid vehicles. The DST interfaces with the Warpstar simulator, a whole-life cost model and drive cycle generator.

DST: helps with informed decision making on hybrids

WMG, which provides manufacturing advice and support to industry, developed both systems in-house, with expertise provided by industry partners including Prodrive. These programs can be used to generate data which feeds back in to the DST to allow more exacting evaluation, or to provide “what if” scenarios.

WMG project manager Adrian Vinsome said: “There is potential for a lot of collaboration. The knowledge is here; it needs a catalyst to bring people together.”