Education in Electric Vehicle Systems: A Multi-disciplinary Approach
Written by Chun Sing Lai, Mohamed Darwish, and Maysam Abbod
Electric vehicles (EVs) are key technologies in research and development to decarbonise road transportation. It is a general perception that vehicles are related to automotive technology and vehicular dynamics, which are still relevant today. However, EVs are greatly different as compared to an internal combustion engine vehicle. EVs use electrical motor for the propulsion and battery as an energy source.
Introduction
The article reports the teaching and learning in Electric Vehicle Systems course designed to equip advanced students with knowledge of low-carbon electric vehicle systems and advanced battery technologies. Different to a traditional automotive course, this one focuses on the key areas of electronic and electrical engineering related to electric vehicle systems. These include power electronics and drives, vehicular communication systems, sustainable smart energy systems, intelligent systems, and embedded systems which contribute to the design of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and converter topologies.
Advanced technologies used in teaching system empowers educators while enabling students to learn and to digest knowledge and skills more efficiently, effectively, conveniently and flexibly. Smart teaching encourages more interaction between students and teachers. There are at least five elements within a well-written smart teaching objective, namely Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Students can incorporate successful study skills that, when practiced overtime, become good habits. Students learn to be more productive, gain confidence and independence, and contribute to a setting where all experience a safe, healthy, sharing environment which encourages respect and high expectations, maximizes potential, and stimulates interest and enthusiasm. Smart learning provides a higher level of engagement among students than traditional forms of learning. It involves digital content including multimedia files, presentations, animations to explain complex concepts in engineering and science in a simplified manner by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts.
Students will have access to modern technical facilities including computer, electronics and power and control laboratories, where they work on practical laboratory-based exercises. The latest industry-standard engineering software packages are available for you to use in purpose-built computer laboratories.
To meet the net-zero emission target and fulfil national agenda, there will be an industry demand for engineers with specialism in electric vehicle systems. The interest in EV education is expanding globally. There are multidisciplinary collaborations from different engineering departments with the aim of building new graduates with the knowledge and research skills in the fields of Enhanced Energy Management including advanced modelling, monitoring, and control of electric vehicle subsystems: energy storage with consideration of comprehensive lifecycle deployment of electric vehicle batteries; advanced power modules, such as advanced integrated power modules for ultra-compact chargers; next-generation powertrain with innovative system topologies to increase the efficiency of electric vehicle powertrains; ubiquitous charging, for example, fast, on-board, and wireless charging solutions to reduce range anxiety; and electric vehicle opportunities to expand the utility of electric vehicles and batteries.
Figure 1 shows four engineering students participating in electric vehicle range modelling from the EV course at Brunel University London, as part of the UK-Saudi Electric Vehicles Education and Research Network.
Further Reading
1. Electric Vehicle Systems MSc: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/electric-vehicle-systems-msc
2. UK-Saudi R&D for emerging electric vehicles technologies: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Projects/Project?entryid=05ea4cdf-270d-4b17-9f11-d5ffdfa6c7cc
3. Darwish, M., Rady, M., Abbod, M., Almatrafi, E. and Lai, C.S., 2022, August. Forecourt Electric Vehicles Charging Hubs–UK and Saudi Research and Education Collaboration. In 2022 57th International Universities Power Engineering Conference (UPEC) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
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