Articles and blogposts on electromobility

The electrification of road traffic is progressing rapidly. The electrification of recreational boats has barely begun – and there are many challenges. What is needed to accelerate the transition at sea?

We are now accustomed to charging stations refuelling our cars with energy, but what if the growing fleet of electric cars could also feed energy back into the grid when needed? So-called vehicle-to-grid technology could be a future solution that both contributes to a more stable electricity system and offers a number of advantages for households.

The use of drones is increasing rapidly in Sweden, in both the private and public sectors. But as technology develops, questions arise about safety, cyber protection and how we can prevent sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

How should the maritime transport industry manage the risks associated with electric or gas-powered vehicles? These issues are being discussed and investigated by participants in the RISE-led research project LASH FIRE. "We are now addressing the next level of risks," says Martin Carlsson at Stena Teknik.

In an era that demands constant development and updating of knowledge, the Advanced Digitalisation research and innovation programme aims to help Swedish industry retain, attract and develop experts. Part of the programme is Expert Learning Labs - an initiative that aims to be a national centre for lifelong learning for experts in industry and academia. Together with Ericsson, Volvo Group, SAAB and ABB, RISE is responsible for the Energy Optimisation track.

Scania has a strong focus on the development of electric vehicles – vehicles that customers expect to be able to drive longer distances in all kinds of climates. To accelerate the development of sustainable transport, Scania has been an active partner in the establishment of the national test centre SEEL. "We see a great need for this test bed in the market and are proud of the journey SEEL is taking together with us, its partners and customers," says Johan Karlsson, Head of Test Cell Operation E-Mobility at Scania.

Heart Aerospace is a company with a clear ambition: to revolutionise regional air travel with electric passenger aircrafts. During the development of the first prototype of the ES-30 hybrid-electric aircraft, SEEL played an important role in testing the electric motor.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology allows energy from an electric vehicle to be sent back to the grid. This can benefit businesses and individuals, as well as society as a whole. The challenge now is to get all the technical solutions and new business models in place to enable commercial deployment.

Electric vehicles are developing fast. But they need to develop even faster – to cope with the climate change and to meet market demands. "We need to make something technically even better, but also cheaper," says Martin Gustavsson, head of research at the Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory (SEEL).

Are charging stations delivering the right amount of energy? OKQ8 partnered with RISE to verify their charging stations in a unique project.

Hyundai Mobis from South Korea has collaborated over a two-year period on the development of power electronics semiconductors. The collaboration is based at the Electrum Laboratory, part of 'Silicon Carbide Valley'. Mobis has had developers on site in Sweden and worked closely with RISE experts on design and processing.

Electric vehicles and fire risk have been a hot topic in recent years. One thing is clear – more knowledge is needed in this area, and testing is an important part of filling the knowledge gap. In the explosion proof laboratory in Borås, Sweden, today's and tomorrow's batteries are put through their paces, both figuratively and literally.

Vehicles can be made much more sustainable than they are today. This was concluded by project SVIS, which wrapped up this autumn. Within the project, RISE and partners explored the potential for recycling and reusing vehicle interiors, generating circular solutions that could shape the future of the automotive industry.

At RISE, we have been working for over 20 years on research concerning silicon carbide and other WBG materials. We have two large laboratories to support this work. Our researchers possess deep expertise in the field, and you can read our publications and collaborate with us on applied development projects.

For over four decades, Dr Mietek Bakowski has worked with research and development in semiconductor materials for high-voltage environments, making him an international authority in Power Electronics - a field that has slowly made its way into powertrains for electric cars, boats, and aircraft. The field is based on the need for tougher materials to withstand the high voltages required as our world becomes increasingly electrified.

Charging points are still not regulated in the same way as petrol and diesel pumps. As a result, the charging infrastructure is not subject to any inspection requirements, which could mean that hidden safety risks remain undetected and consumer protection is compromised. Independent verification can help charging station operators demonstrate that their stations are working properly and charging customers correctly.  

Last year, one million Chinese-made electric cars were sold in Europe. Chinese car manufacturers have an overproduction of electric cars and are therefore filling all available carriers to sell them in Europe at a higher price than in China. With new carriers being built, competition is intensifying further. What can the European automotive industry do in this situation?

We are facing a major challenge. The automotive industry is working to transition to increased sustainability. It's about circularity and efficiency, but above all about creating attractive workplaces. Today, there is a shortage of assembly personnel and it will get worse. This week, the book Felkod kvinna is coming out and I have written a chapter

RISE’s new test facility in Borås will affirm Sweden’s position as a leader in vehicle safety. This is where the batteries of the future will be shocked, shaken and pushed to extreme temperatures in a controlled environment. “The safety lab is due to be inaugurated in the second half of 2023 and will be internationally unique”, says Director of Total Defence Franz Evegren.

A unique opportunity to develop new electromobility products and services has opened up. In September 2023, three new test centers for electric vehicles and components were inaugurated within the initiative SEEL, Swedish Electric Transport Laboratory. The goal is clear: The testbed is to comprise one of the few open meeting places for collaboration and innovation in Europe. 

The expansion of charging infrastructure is not only driving the transition within transportation. It is also providing hackers with new targets. Accordingly, RISE is launching a special initiative for enhanced cyber security for charging stations in Sweden. 

Housing cooperatives, hotels and restaurant chains – these are just a few of the new charging station providers. RISE can help these many inexperienced organisations with regular function and safety inspections.

Silicon carbide is a material used to create new types of energy-efficient semiconductors that can save up to 20 percent of the battery time for electric cars. The Swedish startup Ascatron manufactures wafers and components in silicon carbide. In 2020, the semiconductor developer was acquired by the American electronics giant II-VI. But their journey began as a part of RISE. 

To ensure energy supply while also achieving global climate goals, fossil fuel energy sources must be replaced with renewable energy. One technology for achieving increased electrification of our vehicles is hydrogen and fuel cell technology.

To meet our climate goals, we need to make more efficient use of the energy we have. Part of this will be the development of smarter and more efficient power electronics – the components that convert electrical power into usable forms. Moreover, this is an area in which Swedish industry may have a competitive edge.