Advanced Electric Vehicle Drive and Safety Improvement Techniques

Electric vehicles are drawing increasing attention nowadays. Consequently, the high-performance electric vehicle drives and effective safety improvement techniques become pretty hot. In terms of electric vehicle traction systems, the electric motors, converters, inverters and control algorithms are closely related to the industrial applications. In order to improve the drive performance and the system reliability, as scholars, we have to contribute to developing the more advanced or practical technologies, including motor design, motor control and power electronics, and so on. Vehicle safety problems become severe now. Electric vehicle fire and crash are often reported, motivating both the engineers and the scholars to explore the mechanism and the preventative solutions to the accidental cases. Especially, aiming at the crash conditions, it is crucial and significant to ensure the safety of the occupants in the vehicles.

This PhD programme will open a new paradigm for high-performance and high-reliability traction systems for electric vehicles. In the program, new machine structure will be designed to improve the efficiency of the motor. Simultaneously, the corresponding control algorithms (sliding mode, model predictive and data-driven algorithms, etc.) will be developed and investigated. In terms of the vehicle safety improvement, based on the standard “United Nation Vehicle Regulation ECE R94”, novel technologies concerning crash safety problems will be developed and applied to the new-generation electric vehicles.

Entry requirements:
Candidates must have (or expect to obtain) a minimum of a UK upper second class honours degree (2.1) or equivalent in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics or a related subject.

How to apply:
Applicants should apply via the University’s online application system at https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/. Please read the application guidance first so that you understand the various steps in the application process.