Program Overview

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EJ2410 Hybrid Vehicle Drives

Course Description

There is an increasing demand today to produce more environment-friendly vehicles. The combustion engines of today can be improved, but in the long run, there has to be a change of technology. It will start with electric hybrid vehicles and a possible continuation is with vehicles driven by fuel cells. In parallel to this development, the vehicles will contain more and more electrically supplied auxiliary systems.

The course covers both system and component aspects of the propulsion system, as well as the auxiliary systems. Emphasis is put on vehicles based on hybrid and/or fuel cells solutions.

Information per Course Offering

The course is offered in the autumn semester of 2025 and 2026. For the autumn 2026 course offering, the following information applies:

• Course location: KTH Campus
• Duration: 26 October 2026 - 11 January 2027
• Periods: Autumn 2026: P2 (7.5 hp)
• Pace of study: 50%
• Application code: 11010
• Form of study: Normal Daytime
• Language of instruction: English

Target Group

The course is open for all master's programmes as long as it can be included in the programme. It is a mandatory course for the Master's Programme in Vehicle Engineering, year 2, FORA, and for the Master's Programme in Vehicle Engineering, year 1, FORA.

Planned Modular Schedule

No information is inserted for the planned modular schedule.

Schedule

The schedule is not published.

Part of Programme

The course is part of the following programmes:

• Master's Programme, Vehicle Engineering, year 2, FORA, Mandatory
• Master's Programme, Vehicle Engineering, year 1, FORA, Mandatory
• Master's Programme, Machine Design, year 1

Contact

• Examiner: Stefan Östlund
• Course coordinator: Mats Leksell
• Teachers: Mats Leksell, Rakel Wreland Lindström, Nicholas Honeth

Course Syllabus

The course syllabus is available as a PDF. The syllabus covers the course contents, intended learning outcomes, and literature.

Content and Learning Outcomes

Course Contents

The course covers the following topics:

• Vehicles of today – propulsion and auxiliary systems
• Driving factors for environment-friendly vehicles
• Propulsion and auxiliary systems for hybrid vehicles
• Generic components
• System concepts and simulations
• Development trends

Intended Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to give a broad insight into alternative solutions for conversion of primary energy to transport activity for road vehicles. After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Explain how a hybrid vehicle works and describe its main components and their function
• Describe the different hybrid topologies with respect to their functional blocks and their characteristics
• Design and implement both simple and advanced models of the vehicles
• Analyze the performance of a hybrid vehicle
• Build efficiency models of important components
• Evaluate the environmental impact of road vehicles
• Calculate basic electrical and thermal properties for power electronic converters
• Describe the operating principle and properties for the most common types of electrical motors in hybrid technology
• Describe the operating principle for fuel cells and energy storage elements and calculate basic performance of them
• Describe the fuel alternatives for hybrid vehicles
• Solve, in a group, a given assignment and both in written form and orally present and discuss the result
• Discuss future trends

Literature and Preparations

Specific Prerequisites

Completed Bachelor's degree (180 higher education credits), or equivalent academic qualifications. Documented proficiency in English corresponding to English B.

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic course on electrical engineering.

Literature

Kompendium i Hybrida fordonsdrivsystem, 2006. Kurspärm med projektbeskrivningar och laboration.

Examination and Completion

Grading Scale

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

• PRO1 - Project, 3.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH's coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Other Requirements for Final Grade

One written examination (TEN1; 4.5 credits) Two assignments and one laboratory exercise (PRO1; 3 credits)

Examiner

Stefan Östlund

Ethical Approach

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution

Further Information

Course Room in Canvas

Registered students find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas.

Offered by

EECS/Electrical Engineering

Main Field of Study

Electrical Engineering

Education Cycle

Second cycle

Supplementary Information

N.B. EJ2410 Hybrid Vehicle Drives and EJ2440 Electric Transportation contain to a certain extent the same material. It is therefore not possible to include both courses in the same degree.

In this course, the EECS code of honor applies.