SEEL accelerates the development of new electric vehicles

In just a few years, we have electric vehicles that work perfectly, charge quickly and can be driven long distances. At the same time, prices have fallen so that more and more people can afford them.

But this is not enough.

Regulations and consumer expectations demand a faster transition

The transition needs to be accelerated - partly for regulatory reasons, such as the EU's plan to end sales of fossil-fuel vehicles by 2035, but also because of market expectations.

"More needs to be done to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. Batteries need to be developed so that they are cheaper, take up less space and weigh less. At the same time, electric machines must become even more efficient. All this to reduce costs for the end customer," says Martin Gustavsson, head of research at SEEL.

He has been researching electromobility since 2012 and has seen a huge development since then - not only technically, but also in the way the public views electric vehicles.

"Back then, there was scepticism about range and price. But in recent years we have crossed a threshold. Now electric vehicles have really taken a big place in society, the charging infrastructure has been expanded and so on," says Martin Gustavsson.

At the same time, there are still many people who have not taken the plunge.

"There are many reasons for this. From a purely technological point of view, there is nothing to worry about. But then we have other challenges – cost is one of them," says Mikael Stallgård, Marketing Manager at SEEL.

Batteries one of the key issues

When electric cars were first introduced, they were very much a prestige product. But not everyone needs a sports car that can go from 0 to 100 kilometres in 1.9 seconds.

That has started to change, but it needs to change more.

"We need electric cars across the power spectrum. To reach a broad market, there must be models that suit all different people in society," says Mikael Stallgård.

Let's get back to batteries. Improving them - while making them cheaper and more sustainable - is one of the key issues.

"It's about finding that balance - making something technically better, but also cheaper. On the battery side, for example, work is being done both to improve existing chemical compositions and to develop entirely new battery chemistries. "It is about which minerals you use, how much energy you get in a given area and what it costs," says Martin Gustavsson, and continues:

"At the same time, we see how software is playing an increasing role; through updates you can improve energy efficiency without replacing any physical parts. It is also a way of making products better, smarter and more sustainable.

Test facilities in Göteborg, Nykvarn and Borås

SEEL, a collaboration between RISE and Chalmers, plays an important role here. SEEL works on the development of electromobility at its test facilities in Gothenburg, Nykvarn and Borås.

Customers include the Volvo Group, Scania, Heart Aerospace and Norwegian battery manufacturer Elinor.

"To accelerate the development of electric vehicles, you need to test new solutions, and to dare to do that in the market, you need to test them first in a reliable technical way. That's what we offer," says Martin Gustavsson.

SEEL carries out everything from performance testing of batteries and complete vehicles to safety-critical testing – while also carrying out research activities, including in collaboration with researchers at RISE and Chalmers.

"We are unique in having all this under one roof – even if you look outside Sweden," says Martin Gustavsson.

"Our ambition is to be a world-class test centre that provides customers with the support they need, both in the development phase and before market launch.

"There is also a neutrality in that we are owned by RISE and Chalmers. That's why we also want to be an arena for cooperation and networking, where different companies can meet and share experiences. In this way we can help accelerate the electrification of society for a sustainable future," says Martin Gustavsson.