Electrical vehicle lab

Electric Vehicle Systems Testing, Development, and Research was established in 2019 under the Autonomous Vehicles Research group

At EV Lab @ Autonomous Vehicle Research Group, we specialize in:

  • Testing and development of core electric vehicle (EV) systems.
  • Advancing educational competencies in electric vehicle technology.
  • Researching EV core systems, including communication protocols, low-level control, and full system stack integration.

Our Research

Our team is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology by:

  • Developing efficient core system communication protocols for EVs.
  • Exploring low-level control systems to optimize vehicle performance and safety.
  • Achieving seamless full system stack integration for modern electric vehicles.

Our Education

We offer the project-based course MET0350 Electric Vehicle – Project
This course is optional for EARB Product Development and Robotics program. students

Our Facilities

The lab houses three electric vehicles:

  1. Two Mitsubishi i-MiEVs – widely recognized and used across Estonia.
  2. Pontiac Fiero-based experimental vehicle – a unique platform designed for educational purposes.

We also feature a custom-built “tabletop electric car”, utilized in the MET0350 Electric Vehicle – Project course, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students. Furthermore, the lab coordinates the RetroEV Project, an international engineering initiative to transform classic cars into modern electric vehicles equipped with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The project emphasizes environmental sustainability by retrofitting “young timers” with electric powertrains while maintaining their original design. Participants are evaluated on criteria such as environmental impact reduction, engineering innovation, ADAS functionality integration, and design quality. More information about this project can be found on our RetroEV page.

In collaboration with ABB’s Estonian branch, we offer students development and thesis topics related to electric vehicle charging. ABB has supplied the research group with an AC home charger, which is connected to a separate power meter, allowing for the collection of charging data and the development of smart charging solutions for home users. Providing students with access to the EV charger is a great example of the collaboration between TalTech and ABB.

Contact

For more information about our activities, research, and projects, please reach out Dr. Heiko Pikner or the head of the research group, Prof. Raivo Sell