ELIQUID

"Best Engineering Training in Electric, Lightweight and Quiet Driving"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Engineering for future mobility must be inspired by ecology and economy to enable green and silent vehicles. Current university based education is focusing on classical fields like mechanical engineering on one side with some aspects of Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH) and LightWeight Design (LWD) or like electrical engineering covering aspects of “Electrification” & “Hybridisation” on the other side.

The proposed eLiQuiD project (Best Engineering Training in Electric, Lightweight and Quiet Driving) aims to bring together early stage researchers and experienced specialists from key players in academia and industry across Europe covering NVH, LWD and H/E disciplines to form a broad range of backgrounds. Recent research underlines the strong interaction and shows the often conflicting demands of these 3 topics.

Consequently, an optimum for future vehicle development requires an interdisciplinary education in this triangle of topics. eLiQuiD’s focus is to motivate and encourage early stage researchers for scientific work in the new interdisciplinary research fields NVHLWD, LDWH/E and H/ENVH. The fellows will be trained and supported in their phase of doctoral thesis to find innovative PhD topics as well as to receive specific education in theoretical and practical trainings. The education will comprise existing lectures in the partner network as well as training specifically developed for the interdisciplinary needs.

eLiQuiD is formed by two participating hosts, combining leading education and research institutions as well as an associated partner, well established in European automotive R&D, to assist in the dissemination and outreach or eLiQuiD results. Thus the engineers will participate in both the scientific research work and the practical application of new methods of testing and simulation. They will profit from extended international knowledge after their academic education when starting to work in the industry.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Green, silent and sustainable hybrid and electric cars are the future of road transport. A partnership between academia and the private sector is training doctoral students to address the unique needs of this important emerging market.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Tremendous research and development is devoted to hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) and the necessary recharging infrastructure. However, there is still no university programme that integrates all necessary aspects, including noise, vibration and harshness, lightweight design and hybridisation/electrification. If not integrated under the umbrella of EVs, these topics can create conflicting design demands.

A leading European academic research institution and a well-established automotive research society have joined forces to remedy the situation. With EU funding of the project 'Best engineering training in electric, lightweight and quiet driving' (http://www.fp7-eliquid.eu/ (ELIQUID)), the team is training early-stage researchers (ESRs) through doctoral research in the interdisciplinary fields required for efficient EV development.

Noise is a complex consideration when it comes to electric and hybrid cars. Reducing it is a key goal of the transport sector to reduce environmental impact and increase occupant comfort, yet silent vehicles can pose a danger to pedestrians. ELIQUID is addressing both issues with improved designs that reduce noise and vibration and, in parallel, with acoustic specifications based on the acoustic perception of pedestrians.

During the first two years of the project, four ESRs began their doctoral research programmes under the guidance of partner scientists and engineers. Fourteen lectures from the 2013 Leuven Marie Curie Graduate School on Vehicle Mechatronics and Dynamics can now be downloaded for free through the project website. The first public technical course was held during the 8th International Styrian Noise, Vibration & Harshness Congress in Austria in July 2014.

ELIQUID is part of a new implementation mode called European Industrial Doctorates (EID), a pilot programme partnering an academic research institute and a participant from the private sector. The EID programme is designed to foster creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship by involving businesses in doctoral training. The project's early success has already been recognised by the EU through selection for a promotional movie in collaboration with British Broadcasting Corporation Studios (BBC Studios). The teamwork afforded by the academic-industrial partnership should fill the current gaps in electric car development with major benefits for the EU economy and its citizens.