Skip to main content

Finland increases investment in electric vehicle research

The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) is increasing its investment in the development of electric vehicles and machinery, battery systems and components. In addition to the expansion of the vehicle laboratory in Otaniemi, a new battery laboratory was opened in September to support the research and development of electric commercial vehicles. The laboratories will provide an opportunity to integrate the study of electric vehicles and their power generating components, such as electric motors, elect
November 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
The Technical Research Centre of Finland (814 VTT) is increasing its investment in the development of electric vehicles and machinery, battery systems and components.

In addition to the expansion of the vehicle laboratory in Otaniemi, a new battery laboratory was opened in September to support the research and development of electric commercial vehicles. The laboratories will provide an opportunity to integrate the study of electric vehicles and their power generating components, such as electric motors, electronics and batteries, and should open up the design of new vehicles.

The centre’s expanded research space is also suited to testing and developing heavy vehicles. Finnish industry sees significant potential in this sector.

“The electrification of vehicles and machinery will play an increasingly visible role in the VTT’s research projects, combining expertise related to materials technology, electrotechnology, electric machines and vehicles,” says research professor Nils-Olof Nylund. “Our approach is based on the needs of Finnish industry. In other words, we will focus on projects with actual business potential.”

Other participants in this research include not only the VTT, but Aalto University, Tekes, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Veolia Transport, Normet , Rocla, Fortum, Kabus, Vacon, European Batteries, Helsinki Region Transport, the City of Espoo and the University of Applied Sciences.

Related Content

  • After two decades of research, ITS is getting into its stride
    June 4, 2015
    Colin Sowman gets the global view on how ITS has shaped the way we travel today and what will shape the way we travel tomorrow. Over the past two decades the scope and spread of intelligent transport systems has grown and diversified to encompass all modes of travel while at the same time integrating and consolidating. Two decades ago the idea of detecting cyclists or pedestrians may have been considered impossible and why would you want to do that anyway? Today cyclists can account for a significant propor
  • Autonomous vehicles, the pros and cons
    November 21, 2013
    Driver interface and human factors could provide the biggest obstacles to autonomous vehicles as Jon Masters discovers.
  • Nissan to lead human driving style AV project in the UK
    February 2, 2018
    Nissan’s European Technical Centre will lead a 30-month Autonomous Vehicle trial on UK country roads, high speed roundabouts, A-Roads and motorways with live traffic and different environmental conditions. Called the HumanDrive project, it will also emulate a natural human driving style with the intention of providing an enhanced experience for its occupants. The artificial driver model that controls perception and decision making will pilot the vehicle, and will be developed using artificial intelligence
  • VTT launches AV for snow and ice conditions, Finland
    December 18, 2017
    VTT Technical Research Centre (VTT) of Finland has launched what it claims to be the first autonomous car (AC) to have successfully driven on a real snow-covered road. It also reached speeds of up to 40 km/h during a trial on the Aurora E8 intelligent road in Muonio.