As part of the Driving the Electric Revolution - Building Talent for the Future, we successfully delivered the innovative electric vehicle (EV) emulator systems. These innovative systems are designed for training purposes to address the critical skills gap in the UK electrical machines and drives sector.
The EV emulator system brings real-world engineering applications into the classroom by enabling hands-on experience with actual electrical machines, power electronics, and control systems. Students work with industry-relevant technologies including permanent magnet synchronous machines, real-time field-oriented control, and power electronic converters, while performing professional-grade testing such as four-quadrant operation studies, efficiency mapping, and machine characterisation. The system's 48V operation and built-in protections create a safe learning environment, while its compact, modular design maintains the core principles used in full-scale electric vehicle powertrains. This allows students to develop practical PEMD skills directly applicable to industrial applications.
The launch has already made an impact, with teaching delivered to multiple cohorts of students within the University. Second-year undergraduates have had the chance to use the emulators to analyse electrical machine performance under varying load conditions, while final-year students will utilise them in project work, designing and testing control algorithms for electric motors across various applications. Students have described the experience as “transformative,” with one commenting, “It’s amazing to see the concepts we learn in class come to life. This is the kind of experience that builds confidence for working in the field.”
We are also thrilled to announce that a web platform is in development, which will enable remote access and scalable training provisions, ensuring that our resources can benefit a broader audience including students in the UK Higher and Further Education, and professionals across the industry. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of our exceptional project team.
The project would not have been successful without our loyal team: Dr. Mahmoud Masoud, Dr. Panagiotis Panagiotou, Prof. Antonio Griffo, Mr. Tom Wray, Dr. Raja Toqeer and our Principal Investigator, Dr. Panos Lazari. We also thank Magnokinetics Ltd for their invaluable technical collaboration and support in developing the EV emulator systems as well as our project partner, Matrix Technology Solutions Ltd for their parallel contributions to the project’s objectives.
As a School and University, not only are we building innovative practical training technology but also empowering the next generation of engineers to lead the electric revolution. This milestone is just the beginning, as we continue to expand our training capabilities and make practical PEMD accessible to all.