The feasibility study team suggests that CTVE CoE should provide cutting-edge education and research facilities to foster its own auto industry and play a leading role in the development of the transportation infrastructure. CTVE’s role in Ethiopia, especially in the inland country, is very important. If CTVE’s efforts are successfully implemented, the Ethiopian government’s plan to maintain double-digit economic growth will also be successful. It is very important to educate competent engineers and to improve CTVE’s educational and research capabilities to support the domestic electric vehicle industry.
Therefore, five research laboratories in CTVE have been proposed to deal specifically with
the field of EV research and the list of laboratories is as follows.
Through experiments and simulations of EVs’ various engineering solutions partially and totally, and based on the results, this laboratory develops competitive EVs in Ethiopia and international markets. It will be located in laboratory room 1 on the first floor of the building and will have 12 computer workstations for the research laboratory. These computers run computer-aided design (CAD), structural design, modeling and simulation, dynamic system design and integration, electromechanical design, power electronics simulation and design, control system design, power system design, and simulation. The computer systems can also run general
engineering software.
This lab uses a dynamometer to test various aspects of the powertrain and analyze the results using software tools. The dynamometer (250kW 12,000rpm) is the most important piece of equipment for this lab. However, it cannot be installed inside a building for the following reasons. The first is that the weight is very large. The dynamometer alone is not very heavy, but it can be up to 20 tons if you include all the equipment needed to test an actual EV powertrain. Second, noise and vibration interference from the dynamometer can affect other sensitive equipment in the building, so the dynamometer and its supporting equipment must be installed in separate structures. Dedicated high-power cables (up to 1000kW), water pipes, compressed gas lines, and wireless network connections are required. In addition to the laboratory facilities, about half of the laboratory room 3 on the first floor is needed. Up to five computers can be installed in the analysis room to enable researchers and students to post-process the collected data.
This lab aims to develop better tools for designing and building EVs. It can simulate variously from EV component to system level. The lab will be located in laboratory space 4 on the first floor of the building and will accommodate up to eight computer workstations. Multiple dSPACE hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulators are also deployed in the same lab space. The simulator offers powerful real-time technology and comprehensive bus support and is ideal for future automotive applications such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, electric mobility, and growing network communications. These features can be extended to meet various requirements and prevent accidental system configuration. It supports high-performance processor technology to quickly calculate large and complex models, comprehensive and fast I/O based on FPGA, flexible software-based system configuration, and functional mock-up interface.
This lab develops technology, design, and manufacturing techniques related to automotive chassis and frames. Results are post-processed and analyzed using simulation tools. Like the Powertrain lab, the lab consists of two spaces; an experimental facility located next to the dynamometer. The facility has three vehicle lifts for chassis and frame making and repair. It has the necessary manufacturing tools for chassis and frame evaluation, static and dynamic strength testing systems, real-time instruments, and a variety of sensors and measuring
devices. One of the car lifts is shared between different laboratories for research and education purposes.
Through experiments and simulations of EVs’ various engineering solutions partially and totally, and based on the results, this laboratory develops competitive EVs in Ethiopia and international markets. It will be located in laboratory room 1 on the first floor of the building and will have 12 computer workstations for the research laboratory. These computers run computer-aided design (CAD), structural design, modeling and simulation, dynamic system design and integration, electromechanical design, power electronics simulation and design, control system design, power system design, and simulation. The computer systems can also run general
engineering software.
This lab uses a dynamometer to test various aspects of the powertrain and analyze the results using software tools. The dynamometer (250kW 12,000rpm) is the most important piece of equipment for this lab. However, it cannot be installed inside a building for the following reasons. The first is that the weight is very large. The dynamometer alone is not very heavy, but it can be up to 20 tons if you include all the equipment needed to test an actual EV powertrain. Second, noise and vibration interference from the dynamometer can affect other sensitive equipment in the building, so the dynamometer and its supporting equipment must be installed in separate structures. Dedicated high-power cables (up to 1000kW), water pipes, compressed gas lines, and wireless network connections are required. In addition to the laboratory facilities, about half of the laboratory room 3 on the first floor is needed. Up to five computers can be installed in the analysis room to enable researchers and students to post-process the collected data.
This lab aims to develop better tools for designing and building EVs. It can simulate variously from EV component to system level. The lab will be located in laboratory space 4 on the first floor of the building and will accommodate up to eight computer workstations. Multiple dSPACE hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulators are also deployed in the same lab space. The simulator offers powerful real-time technology and comprehensive bus support and is ideal for future automotive applications such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous driving, electric mobility, and growing network communications. These features can be extended to meet various requirements and prevent accidental system configuration. It supports high-performance processor technology to quickly calculate large and complex models, comprehensive and fast I/O based on FPGA, flexible software-based system configuration, and functional mock-up interface.
This lab develops technology, design, and manufacturing techniques related to automotive chassis and frames. Results are post-processed and analyzed using simulation tools. Like the Powertrain lab, the lab consists of two spaces; an experimental facility located next to the dynamometer. The facility has three vehicle lifts for chassis and frame making and repair. It has the necessary manufacturing tools for chassis and frame evaluation, static and dynamic strength testing systems, real-time instruments, and a variety of sensors and measuring
devices. One of the car lifts is shared between different laboratories for research and education purposes.
