FEVER - Future Electric Vehicles Energy network supporting Renewables

Supervisory team: Prof Andrew Cruden, Prof Richard Wills, Prof Suleiman Sharkh

This PhD will support a wider research team working on a new EPSRC funded Programme Grant entitled ‘Future Electric Vehicle Energy networks supporting Renewables (FEVER, www.fever-ev.ac.uk), grant ref: EP/W005883/1.

The need to rapidly electrify the transport sector is being driven by the recognition that this sector is now the largest single source of carbon emissions in the UK. Whilst the purchase and use of new battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing the publicly available re-charging infrastructure is lagging behind, and Government have acknowledged this through recent announcement of a £1.5bn EV charging infrastructure programme.

However a major obstacle remains in terms of the current electrical grid capacity and connection process to facilitate new charging stations.

The focus of the FEVER project is to develop new, grid independent, 100% renewable energy supplied, EV charging stations. As the input energy is in the form of stochastic renewable energy, the charging station architecture requires to utilise a novel energy store, capable of regulating seasonally variable input energy against a daily and weekly pattern of EV charging use. The novel energy store must be capable of meeting the charging power and energy requirements of EVs, whilst satisfying the charging station annual energy flows and economic model. For example, a lithium-ion battery system on its own could not meet these diverse requirements and a novel energy storage hybrid system will be investigated.

Entry Requirements

A relevant engineering undergraduate degree, ideally at 1st class level.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk).

You need to

• choose programme type (research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• please select if you will be full time or part time
• choose the relevant PhD in Engineering & Environment
• add name of the supervisor in Section 2

Applications should include

• personal statement
• CV (resumé)
• 2 reference letters
• degree transcripts to date