Introductory description

The 21st centuary automotive industry is transitioning at pace to electric propulsion technology, presenting new challenges in component and system design and vehicle integration. This module provides a holistic introduction to electrified automotive powertrains, from global motivations through to compoent design. Existing appropoaches to partial and full electrification are critiqued and opportunities for new design and research opportunities are exposed. The module is delivered through a mix of traditional lectures, group discussion and design activities and hands-on practicals using both established and novel tools and techniques.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Motivations for the transition to electrified powertrains in automotive applications.
Emissions formation and control.
Air quality and global warming.
Life cycle analysis of environmental impact.
Industry roadmaps for low carbon vehicle technology.
Assessment of vehicles against certification requirements.
Hybrid and pure electric powertrain architectures.
Vehicle product case studies.
Road load modelling and systemmatic energy and power requirements derivation.
Energy storage technologies.
Battery modularity and design.
Electrical behaviour and modelling of batteries.
Charging processes and the impact on user experience and carbon footprint.
Electric machine types and approaches to torque control.
Drivetrain and battery specification and matching to vehicle system requirements.
On-board energy management and optimisation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Independently critique global stakeholder influences, motivations and industry progress in automotive powertrain electrification.
• Comprehensively understand existing H/EV products, their relative merits and critique designs against practical real-world applications.
• Systematically derive power and energy requirements for automotive products in alignment with standardised evaluation criteria and real-world end-user requirements.
• Design and evaluate energy storage and electric machine technology as co-dependant sub-systems of vehicle powertrain applications.
• Critique a wide variety of approaches to energy management with regards to applicability, complexity, optimality, resource requirements and practicality.

Indicative reading list

Propulsion Systems for Hybrid Vehicles - John M. Miller

Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles, Third Edition: International Student
Edition - Mehrdad EhsaniYimin GaoStefano LongoKambiz Ebrahimi&

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles - Tom Denton
Hybrid Electric Vehicles: Energy Management Strategies (SpringerBriefs in Electrical and
Computer Engineering) - Simona OnoriLorenzo SerraoGiorgio Rizzoni&

Principles of Electric Machines and Power Electronics, 3rd Edition

Battery Systems Engineering | Wiley

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

Ability to independently critique global stakeholder influences, motivations and industry progress in automotive powertrain electrification.
Comprehensive understanding of existing H/EV products, their relative merits and the ability to critique designs against practical real-world applications.
Ability to systematically derive power and energy requirements for automotive products in alignment with standardised evaluation criteria and real-world end-user requirements.
Ability to design and evaluate energy storage and electric machine technology as co-dependant sub-systems of vehicle powertrain applications.
Ability to critique a wide variety of approaches to energy management with regards to applicability, complexity, optimality, resource requirements and practicality.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking, Problem solving, Information literacy (research skills), Sustainability, Ethical values, Professionalism