Electric Mobility

Mobility is a vital domain in the transition away from fossil fuel and towards sustainable energy technologies. 250 million electric vehicles are expected on the roads globally by 2030, creating an electrical energy demand of 1,110 TWh and offsetting up to 540 Mt CO2-eq well-to-wheel (WTW) greenhouse gas emissions (Global EV Outlook 2019, IEA). With the shift towards electric mobility, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure will be an essential electrical system from both from the energy and mobility perspective.

An electric vehicle (for land, sea or air transport) is an excellent example of system integration comprising of the battery, power electronic converters, machines, chassis & transmission; with the whole mobility transition requiring appropriate business and policy elements for a successful role out. Development of an electric vehicle ecosystem hence requires system integrators who are trained in these subsystems and how they operate together.

At TU Delft, we aim to make mobility sustainable by developing technologies for electrification of mobility and powering it using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Our research and education in this area focus on energy storage, power electronics & drives, intelligent control, grid integration and effective policy making.

Scope of the profile Electric Mobility

  • The role of electric vehicles in the energy transition and social impact
  • Powering electric vehicles using sustainable energy, esp. wind and solar.
  • Types of electric vehicle architectures and operation principles
  • Motors drives and power electronics used in electric vehicles
  • Electric vehicle power train including the storage, converter, motor and its integrated digital modelling and control
  • The charging methods of EVs: AC & DC charging, vehicle-to-grid technology, wireless charging, battery swap, smart charging.

Master thesis

The following departments offer graduation projects in the electric mobility profile:

  • Electrical Sustainable Energy (Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science)
  • Engineering Systems and Services (Technology, Policy and Management)
  • Radiation Science & Technology (Applied Sciences)
  • Process and Energy (Mechanical Engineering)

Examples of graduation projects

  • Efficient and Economic Integration of Electric Vehicles and Photovoltaic systems into the distribution system 
  • Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicle with 11 kW Induction Charger
  • Advancing sustainable transportation by charging EVs with PV power at the workplace — An optimal charging strategy
  • E-Hub : Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station - System design, Optimisation and Testing
  • Modeling optimal EV charging in solar parking lots for reducing peak demand, considering uncertainty in solar power forecasting and EV energy demand
  • Ecosystem Exploration of Micro-Electric Mobility Market in the Netherlands
  • Power-to-gas for the Dutch Transportation sector Wind powered hydrogen fueling stations with on-site Hydrogen generation
  • Design and evaluation of powertrain architectures for battery electric vehicles

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