The results of four preliminary research studies at Chalmers University of Technology are paving the way for solutions that can contribute to greener transport, reduced emissions and more efficient mobility. The projects, which were recently presented, have been funded by a donation of one million kronor from the Swedish Engineers’ Environmental Fund (Stiftelsen Sveriges Ingenjörers Miljöfond).
The four projects represent different research areas, but are united by the goal of contributing to more sustainable transport systems. The solutions are based on research in fields such as automation, electromobility and environmental science.
Potential for improved traffic flow and reduced emissions
“It was fascinating to hear the results from all four projects,” says Staffan Bjurulf, research officer at Engineers of Sweden, after the researchers at Chalmers presented their projects.
In one of the projects, Adaptive and Network-Level Traffic Signal Control for Sustainable Traffic Management (ANTSC), the researchers carried out measurements in central Stockholm and Gothenburg and investigated how traffic flows can be analysed and improved to contribute to more efficient mobility and reduced environmental impact.
“Here there is potential for people in Gothenburg and Stockholm to get around faster in traffic with lower emissions. We naturally hope to see this type of research result realised,” says Staffan Bjurulf.
Fast track from societal challenges to research results
"Engineers of Sweden commissioned transport researchers at Chalmers to find new, innovative solutions to address societal challenges such as pollution and global warming, and to accelerate the green transition. A complex task requiring multiple perspectives and skills. The projects therefore involved researchers from several different research fields and departments at Chalmers," says Balázs Kulcsár, Director of Transport Area of Advance and Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology.
"I am proud of the quality and potential of the results our transport researchers have presented. We now look forward to following the progress of the projects, which may encompass everything from EU projects and test rigs to scientific publications."
"This research initiative demonstrates the value of targeted donations and how they can contribute to a stronger link between societal challenges and research outcomes – thereby enabling greater societal benefit," says Balázs Kulcsár.
The four projects that have received funding and been reported on:
1. Adaptive and Network-Level Traffic Signal Control for Sustainable Traffic Management (ANTSC)
Researchers at Chalmers: Kun Gao, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, och Musa Furkan Keskin, Department of Electrical Engineering.
2. A pre-study of multifunctional material-based battery packs for electric vehicles to achieve lightweight and effective heat transfer
Researchers at Chalmers: Hua-Dong Yao, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, och Jinhua Sun, Department of Industrial and Materials Science.
3. Electrostatic brakedust collector
Researchers at Chalmers: Jonas Sjöblom, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences och Henrik Ström, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences.
4. SOC: Smart charging stations Operations in the era of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bi-directional Charging
Researchers at Chalmers: Jiaming Wu, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
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Sveriges ingenjörer finansierar forskningsförstudier på Chalmers
Facts: Selection of projects
In 2024, Engineers of Sweden set transport researchers at Chalmers University of Technology the challenge of developing new solutions that could accelerate the green transition in the transport sector and help address societal challenges such as pollution and global warming.
In response to the challenge, Chalmers Transport Area of Advance launched an internal call for proposals, inviting transport-focused researchers to submit project proposals. In a structured review process, the projects were assessed against pre-defined criteria – including relevance to the transition, scientific quality and innovation potential – to ensure a transparent and fair selection.
Following the review, four projects were selected for funding. Each project was awarded 250,000 Swedish kronor. The projects, which ran for one year, brought together researchers from several departments at Chalmers and encompassed solutions in areas such as automation, electromobility and environmental science.
The initiative was made possible by a donation of 1 million Swedish kronor from the Swedish Engineers’ Environmental Fund.
Facts: Engineers of Sweden Environmental Fund and Swedbank humanfond
The funds used to finance the studies come from the Engineers of Sweden's Environmental Fund (Sveriges Ingenjörers miljöfond), established in 1993 with the aim of supporting projects, student work and research that contribute to improving the physical environment in Sweden and neighbouring regions. The Environmental Fund, in turn, receives funds from the savings of the Engineers of Sweden's members in the Swedbank humanfond, where two per cent is set aside annually for societal benefit and sustainable technical development.
In collaboration with Chalmers, Engineers of Sweden has previously also offered scholarships to students. These funds were also drawn from the Environmental Fund.
