Skip to main content

ChalmersX: Electric and Conventional Vehicles

Learn how electric and conventionalpowertrains work and methods to analysetheir performance and energy consumption.

7 weeks
10–20 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

30,507 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 27

About this course

Skip About this course

Electric powertrains are estimated to propel a large part of road vehicles in the future, due to their high efficiency and zero tailpipe emissions. But, the cost and weight of batteries and the time to charge them are arguments for the conventional powertrain in many vehicles. This makes it important for engineers working with vehicles to understand how both these powertrains work, and how to determine their performance and energy consumption for different type of vehicles and different ways of driving vehicles.

This course is aimed at learners with a bachelor's degree or engineers in the automotive industry who need to develop their knowledge about electric powertrains.

In this course, you will learn how electric and conventional combustion engine powertrains are built and how they work. You will learn methods to calculate their performance and energy consumption and how to simulate them in different driving cycles. You will also learn about the basic function, the main limits and the losses of:

  • Combustion engines,
  • Transmissions
  • Electric machines,
  • Power electronics
  • Batteries.

This knowledge will also be a base for understanding and analysing different types of hybrid vehicles, discussed in the course, Hybrid Vehicles.
As a result of support from MathWorks, students will be granted access to MATLAB/Simulink for the duration of the course.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Hybrid Vehicles, Simulink, MATLAB, Batteries, Energy Consumption, Powertrain, Automotive Industry

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Formulate vehicle performance requirements
  • Translate vehicle requirements to powertrain requirements
  • Sizing powertrain components
  • Strengths and weaknesses of electric and conventional powertrains
  • Driving cycle simulation
  • Determine electricity- or fuel consumption of different powertrains

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Battery Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Vehicles Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
2 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
10 - 20 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.