Education in Electric Vehicle Systems: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Written by Chun Sing Lai, Mohamed Darwish, and Maysam F. Abbod
Electric vehicles (EVs) are key technologies in the research and development to decarbonize 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 internal combustion engine vehicles. EVs use an electrical motor for propulsion and a battery as an energy source.
The article reports the teaching and learning in a recent Electric Vehicle Systems course designed to equip advanced students with knowledge of low-carbon electric vehicle systems and advanced battery technologies. Different from 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 this teaching system empower educators while enabling students to learn and 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 over time, 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 that 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, and 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 the national agenda, there will be an industry demand for engineers specialized 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 modeling, 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 modeling from the EV course at Brunel University London, as part of the UK-Saudi Electric Vehicles Education and Research Network.
Figure 1: Students participating in electric vehicle range modeling with supervision from academic members.
Future Reading
- Electric Vehicle Systems MSc: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/electric-vehicle-systems-msc
- UK-Saudi R&D for emerging electric vehicles technologies: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/Projects/Project?entryid=05ea4cdf-270d-4b17-9f11-d5ffdfa6c7cc
- 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.
This article was edited by Sandeep Shekhawat.
To view all articles in this issue, please go to May 2023 eNewsletter. For a downloadable copy, please visit the IEEE Smart Cities Resource Center.
