VTT gets onboard with electric bus research

LONDON – While research into electric and hybrid electric automobiles is highly active around the world less research is conducted into larger electric vehicles and machinery according to VTT Technical Research Center (Espoo, Finland). This is why the research institute is expanding support for research into electric vehicles, machinery, battery systems, and components of various types.

VTT's vehicle laboratory and the battery laboratory will now provide an opportunity to study electric vehicles and their powertrain as an entity, including electric motors, electronics and batteries. VTT has developed an electric bus test platform, called eBus, as part of support for electric vehicle research. The battery laboratory begins operations in September 2012.

One example of the work that will be conducted at VTT's laboratory in Otaniemi is the Electric Commercial Vehicle (ECV) collaborative research project. The project, coordinated by VTT, has a budget of 10 million euro (about $12.5 million) and involves more than 25 companies and research organizations. The eBus test bus was designed by VTT and assembled on a bus chassis form Kabus Oy by Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

"The electrification of vehicles and machinery will come to play an increasingly visible role in VTT’s research projects," said Professor Nils-Olof Nylund, in a statement. "Our approach is based on the needs of the Finnish industry. In other words, we will focus on projects with actual business potential."


Related links and articles:

www.vti.fi

Webinar on safety-critical applications

News articles:

Research center looks to autonomous machine-based service networks

Slideshow: MEMS in the midnight sun

ST forms joint venture with Chinese car maker