Chalmers team secures second place at IEEE VTS Call for Ideas

On February 19th, a team from the Department of Electrical Engineering secured second place at the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society (VTS) Call for Ideas: Innovations in Vehicle Propulsion Technologies to Address Climate Change, for their proposal on Reconfigurable Battery Systems for Sustainable Vehicle Propulsion.

Advancing Innovation in Sustainable Propulsion

The IEEE VTS Call for Ideas sought forward-thinking solutions that address the topics related to propulsion technologies for vehicles. Teams from around the world submitted written proposals, which were evaluated based on originality, feasibility, technical merit, and potential real-world impact. The six highest-ranked teams were invited to present their ideas at the Shift Green Workshop at Politecnico di Milano, an event that gathered PhD students, academics, and industry professionals, including representatives from the power electronics and electric vehicle sectors.

The Chalmers team, consisting of PhD students Albert Skegro and Qingbo Zhu, along with Assoc. Prof. Changfu Zou, introduced an intelligent and adaptable battery reconfiguration method designed to improve efficiency and sustainability in electric mobility. PhD student Albert Skegro delivered the team's presentation, which was commended for its technical foundation, well-defined development path, and industry relevance. The final ranking was determined based on the written proposal evaluation, presentation clarity, and audience engagement.

“I feel both happy and deeply humbled by this award,” says Albert. “It is quite encouraging to see that our work has resonated with both academia and industry, as experts from both fields were part of the evaluation committee. This recognition motivates us to further develop reconfigurable batteries, foster new collaborations with industry partners, and bring the technology closer to real-world application.”

This achievement highlights Chalmers’ ongoing commitment to pioneering sustainable energy solutions and reinforces Sweden’s position as a global leader in battery innovation. This battery reconfiguration research has been funded by Mistra Innovation and Chalmers Energy Area of Advance. The Chalmers team extends its gratitude to the funding bodies and to Prof. Torsten Wik for his invaluable support.