Electric Cars: Technology from edX

Electric cars are more than a novel means of mobility. They have been recognized as an essential building block of the energy transition. Fulfilling their promise will imply a significant change in the technical, digital and social dimensions of transport and energy infrastructure. If you are interested in learning about the state-of-the-art technology behind electric cars, then this is the course for you!

This course focuses on the technology behind electric cars. You will explore the working principle of electric vehicles with different operations including regenerative braking, delve into the machines and power electronics used in electric vehicles and the technology behind their operation, learn about battery technology, EV charging, smart charging, battery management systems and thermal systems and about future trends in the development of electric cars like autonomous driving.

The course includes video lectures, presentations and exercises, which are all illustrated with real-world case studies from projects that were implemented in the Netherlands. This includes Lightyear One EV, the Carver EV, ABB EV charging infrastructure and the Vattenfall solar race team.

This course was co-developed by Dutch Innovation Centre for Electric Road Transport (Dutch-INCERT) and TU Delft and is taught by experts from both the industry and academia, who share their knowledge and insights.

Join the course and be prepared for the upcoming developments amid the transition to electric vehicles!

What's inside

Learning objectives

Operation principle of electric cars
Motors and power electronics in an electric car
Battery technology

Relevant charging infrastructure technologies and innovations, such as smart charging
Future technology for evs such as wireless charging and solar evs

Operation principle of electric cars
Motors and power electronics in an electric car
Battery technology
Relevant charging infrastructure technologies and innovations, such as smart charging
Future technology for evs such as wireless charging and solar evs

Syllabus

Week 1: How does an EV work?

Comparing ICE and Electric Vehicles

EV Powertrains & its sizing

Well-to-wheel emissions of EVs

Regenerative braking

Case study: Carver EV

Case study: Lightyear One EV

Week 2: Electric Machines and Power Electronics

EV Power Electronics

Electric Machines

Inverter/VFD

Speed Control

Losses in power electronics, battery and electric machines

Week 3: Battery Technology for EVs

Battery working principles & Battery losses

Lithium-ion batteries

Battery pack and battery management system

Battery production and reuse

Case study: Carver EV battery

Case study: Lightyear EV battery

Week 4. Charging Technology of EVs

AC charging - Type 1,2,3

DC charging - CHAdeMO, Tesla, CCS, GB/T

Fast charging and its limitations

Smart charging and applications

Vehicle to grid (V2G) technology

Case study: ABB

Week 5. Future trends in electric cars

Wireless and on-road charging of EV

Battery swap technology

Autonomous driving

Charging EVs from renewables

Case study: Vattenfall solar car team

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the state-of-the-art technology behind electric cars

Taught by experts from both the industry and academia

Develops a deep understanding of electric car technology

Reviews summary

Informative introduction to electric vehicles

According to students, Electric Cars: Technology provides a good introduction to the electrical engineering concepts needed to understand how electric vehicles work. Learners say it's a suitable course for people with a basic background in physics and math. Students also say that the course is enjoyable.

Electric vehicles address environmental concerns.

"Because it solves a lot of environmental problems..."

Electric vehicles will become increasingly important in the future.

"As a mechanical engineer, the course provides some useful insight into technology that will only grow in prominence over the coming years."

This course is good for beginners in electric vehicles.

"The course is suitable for anyone who has a basic background in Physics and Maths and wants to get an overview of how EV work."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Electric Cars: Technology with these activities:

Brush up on basic physics concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of basic physics concepts to strengthen your foundation on electric vehicle technology.

Browse courses on Electric Vehicles

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Review your notes or textbooks on basic physics concepts such as electricity, magnetism, and mechanics
Solve practice problems related to these concepts

Read Electric Vehicle Technology Explained

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Review some of the core concepts and terminologies discussed in this course by reading this book.

View Electric Vehicle Technology Explained on Amazon

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Read the introduction and the first three chapters of the book
Take notes of concepts that are not clear to you
Discuss any misconceptions you may have about electric vehicles with your peers in the course forums

Learn about different types of electric vehicle batteries

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Electric vehicle batteries are a crucial component of electric cars. Explore how they power electric vehicles.

Browse courses on Electric Vehicle Batteries

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Find online tutorials on different types of electric vehicle batteries
Watch the tutorials and take notes on the key features and differences between the different types of batteries
Summarize your learning in a short paragraph

Two other activities

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Show all five activities

Attend a conference or industry event focused on electric vehicles

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Connect with professionals in the field and learn about the latest trends in electric vehicle development.

Browse courses on Electric Vehicles

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Identify and register for an electric vehicle conference or industry event
Attend the event and actively engage with other attendees
Exchange ideas and learn from experts and peers

Create a presentation on the future of electric vehicles

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Explore emerging technologies and trends shaping the future of electric vehicles.

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Research the latest advancements and trends in electric vehicle technology
Develop a presentation outline
Create visual aids and supporting materials
Practice delivering your presentation

Career center

Learners who complete Electric Cars: Technology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Battery Engineer

A Battery Engineer designs, develops, tests, and evaluates batteries. This role works to improve the performance and efficiency of batteries, and to extend their lifespan. The Electric Cars: Technology course can help build a foundation for this role by providing a comprehensive overview of battery technology, including the different types of batteries, their working principles, and their limitations. The course also covers battery management systems, which are essential for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of batteries.

See salaries and explore the career path for Battery Engineer

Electrical Engineer

An Electrical Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains electrical systems. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. The Electric Cars: Technology course can help build a foundation for this role by providing a comprehensive overview of electrical engineering principles, including the basics of electricity, magnetism, and circuits. The course also covers power electronics, which are essential for controlling the flow of electricity in electrical systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Electrical Engineer

Automotive Engineer

An Automotive Engineer designs, develops, tests, and evaluates automobiles. This role works to improve the performance, efficiency, and safety of automobiles. The Electric Cars: Technology course can help build a foundation for this role by providing a comprehensive overview of automotive engineering principles, including the basics of vehicle dynamics, powertrains, and emissions control. The course also covers electric vehicles, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their environmental benefits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Engineer

Power Electronics Engineer

A Power Electronics Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains power electronics systems. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. The Electric Cars: Technology course can help build a foundation for this role by providing a comprehensive overview of power electronics principles, including the basics of power semiconductors, power converters, and power distribution systems. The course also covers electric vehicles, which use power electronics to control the flow of electricity in their powertrains.

See salaries and explore the career path for Power Electronics Engineer

Vehicle Dynamics Engineer

A Vehicle Dynamics Engineer designs, develops, tests, and evaluates the dynamic behavior of vehicles. This role works to improve the handling, stability, and ride comfort of vehicles. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the dynamic behavior of electric vehicles, which can be different from that of conventional vehicles due to their different powertrains.

See salaries and explore the career path for Vehicle Dynamics Engineer

Charging Infrastructure Engineer

A Charging Infrastructure Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. This role works to ensure that electric vehicles can be charged safely and efficiently. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of charging infrastructure, their working principles, and their limitations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Charging Infrastructure Engineer

Mechatronics Engineer

A Mechatronics Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains systems that combine mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering principles. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different systems in an electric vehicle, and how they work together to achieve the desired performance.

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Renewable Energy Engineer

A Renewable Energy Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains renewable energy systems. This role works to develop and implement renewable energy solutions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of renewable energy technologies, their working principles, and their limitations. The course also covers the role of electric vehicles in the transition to a renewable energy future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Renewable Energy Engineer

Energy Storage Engineer

An Energy Storage Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains energy storage systems. This role works to develop and implement energy storage solutions to improve the efficiency and reliability of our energy systems. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of energy storage technologies, their working principles, and their limitations. The course also covers the role of electric vehicles in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

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Materials Scientist

A Materials Scientist researches, develops, and tests new materials. This role works to develop materials with improved properties, such as strength, durability, and conductivity. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of materials used in electric vehicles, and their properties. The course also covers the development of new materials for electric vehicles, such as lightweight materials and high-performance batteries.

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Nanotechnologist

A Nanotechnologist researches, develops, and tests materials and devices at the nanoscale. This role works to develop new technologies with improved properties, such as strength, durability, and conductivity. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of nanomaterials used in electric vehicles, and their properties. The course also covers the development of new nanotechnologies for electric vehicles, such as nano-scale batteries and ultra-lightweight materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nanotechnologist

Data Analyst

A Data Analyst collects, analyzes, and interprets data to identify trends and patterns. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, healthcare, and finance. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different types of data that are collected from electric vehicles, and how this data can be used to improve the performance and efficiency of electric vehicles.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains software systems. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, healthcare, and finance. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different software systems that are used in electric vehicles, and how these systems work together to achieve the desired performance. The course also covers the development of new software technologies for electric vehicles, such as autonomous driving and vehicle-to-grid communication.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the development and marketing of a product. This role works to ensure that the product meets the needs of the customer and is successful in the marketplace. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different technologies that are used in electric vehicles, and the benefits and drawbacks of each technology. The course also covers the market for electric vehicles, and the key trends that are driving the growth of this market.

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Sales Engineer

A Sales Engineer provides technical support to customers and helps them to select the right product for their needs. This role works in a variety of industries, including automotive, healthcare, and manufacturing. The Electric Cars: Technology course may be useful for this role by providing an overview of the different technologies that are used in electric vehicles, and the benefits and drawbacks of each technology. The course also covers the market for electric vehicles, and the key trends that are driving the growth of this market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Engineer