Master in Electric Vehicle Development
Read more about the programme
Boel Ekergård, on Master in Electric Vehicle Development
A new, unique programme in Electric Vehicle Development aims to educate electrical engineers, that can solve the challenges of the industry. By focusing on problem solving, practical labs and industry contact the students will acquire skills that are highly sought after.
The Master in Electric Vehicle Development is a one-year programme aimed at electrical engineers. It’s built in collaboration with industry and focuses on the questions “what challenges do the electric vehicle industry face today and how can they be solved?”. Therefore, there is a very clear focus on how technology is applied in industry today. And after graduation, the students will have skills that are highly sought after by industry.
“We talk a lot with companies, and they are very positive about being involved in programme” says Boel Ekergård, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director at University West. “We will have the industry involved in every course. For example, through lectures, company visits and project work with supervisors from industry.”
The Trollhättan region and West Sweden are home to many car and battery industries, making it the perfect location for students within Electric Vehicle Development.
Practical knowledge
"The students will actually produce solutions, not only read about how to do it," says Boel Ekergård. "They will be in the lab a lot - it's a very good way to learn, to actually apply the knowledge.”
The Master in Electric Vehicle Development is a unique programme, because of its large application and many practical elements. Among other things, the students will design electric motors, develop control systems and work with EMC problems.
“In an area like this, where so much is happening, there are so many different sections where new technical solutions are needed” Boel Ekergård explains. “We don’t only need to improve current solutions, we also need to come up with completely new solutions. To do that, you must have a very deep knowledge. The students must actually understand ‘what does the equation mean and what happens in the next step?’. And that's where I think that lab-sessions are extremely valuable.”
Sustainability
An electrical driveline is a more sustainable solution than a traditional combustion engine. Boel Ekergård explains why.
“They have much higher efficiency. You go from an efficiency of 20% up to maybe 70% by switching to electric power. And you don't have any emissions when you drive” she says.
And for Boel Ekergård this is the biggest reason for her interest in this subject.
“I want to contribute to reducing our impact on this planet” she explains. “We have to reduce emissions, and the automotive industry is basically responsible for 30% of the emissions in the world. So, if we electrify the entire vehicle sector, we have very good conditions for reducing emissions.”