Mobile Lab | Michigan Technological University

We Deliver Hands-On HEV Activities

The Michigan Tech Mobile Lab is a fully outfitted laboratory that comes to you for your private or public event. We partner with government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to deliver hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) education, outreach, and research across the nation.

Housed in an expandable, double-wide trailer, this lab is like no other. It’s pulled by a Class 8 semi truck with a Detroit Diesel DD15 engine, the latest in heavy-duty diesel technology. Providing Wi-Fi accessibility throughout, the mobile lab’s desks, chairs, and workspaces can be reconfigured to suit your needs. The mobile lab features a powertrain test cell, a configurable HEV, three other state-of-the-art hybrid vehicles, a portable chassis dynamometer, a smart interactive microgrid, and more.

The Mobile Lab

The Moblie Lab parked with the Capital building in the background.

In Washington, DC

Lecturer in the Mobile Lab speaking to participants.

Mobile Lab Classroom

Professional Development Education Delivered to Corporate Location

A lecturer pointing at a monitor while three participants look on.

Hands on Trainings for Professional Engineers

Participants watch a lecturer speak inside the Mobile Lab.

Training Engineers at Corporate Location

Participants work inside the Mobile Lab while looking at monitors.

Professional Development Hands-on Learning Component

What Can the Mobile Lab Do for You?

Industry – Short Courses

Need targeted employee training? Short courses can be delivered at your location. Courses can be developed and delivered in collaboration with corporate experts to ensure critical content is covered.

Educators

Interested in teaching a seminar or short course? Set yourself apart from the crowd with a hands-on course. The Mobile Lab provides configurable space for virtually any STEM topic anywhere in the continental US.

Researchers

Need some additional facilities for a research project or to collect field data? The Mobile Lab's equipment includes:

National Instruments PXI & cRIO DAQ
AC Dynamometers
Chassis Dynamometer
Instrumented Production HEVs

Outreach Partners

Need a platform for public relations, product or technology awareness, or for hands-on customer training? Content and activities can be delivered by corporate and/or Michigan Tech personnel.

Students

Want to get out of the classroom and into the lab? Learn about HEVs while sitting in the driver's seat. Classes are taught from the Mobile Lab using production and configurable HEVs each semester.

ME 4296 - Vehicle Electrification Lab

This hands-on course examines vehicle electrification from a power and energy perspective. Topics include powertrain architecture, vehicle and component testing, fuel consumption, aerodynamics and rolling resistance, engines, batteries, electric machines, and power electronics. The course culminates with the study of system interactions with emphasis on idle reduction and regenerative braking as mechanisms for increasing fuel economy.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Engineering; May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

ME 5296 - Powertrain Integration for Vehicle Electrification

This hands-on course examines challenges with powertrain integration in vehicle electrification. Topics include Vehicle Development Process, Thermal Management, Vehicle Controls, Safety, Calibration, and Vehicle Simulation Models. The course project includes optimizing performance of an electrified vehicle through modeling and experimentation.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Engineering
Pre-Requisite(s): MEEM 4296(C) or EE 4296(C)

EE 4296 - Experimental Studies in Vehicle Electrification

Hands-on course on vehicle electrification. Covers propulsion architecture, vehicle and component testing, fuel consumption, aerodynamics, rolling resistance, engines, batteries, electric machines, and power electronics. Emphasis on system interactions, powertrain modes, and regenerative braking for efficiency.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Engineering; May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior

EE 5296 - Powertrain Integration for Vehicle Electrification

Lab-based, hands-on course examining propulsion integration for vehicle electrification. Covers requirements, vehicle development process, component specification, thermal management, controls, safety, and calibration. Course project on optimizing electrified vehicle performance through modeling and experimentation.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Engineering
Pre-Requisite(s): MEEM 4296(C) or EE 4296(C)

ME 5255 - Advanced Powertrain Instrumentation and Experimental Methods

Experimentation and testing of engines and propulsion systems through instruction and structured labs. Study and application of data acquisition systems. Investigation of transducers, calibration, signal conditioning, and noise for combustion, power, performance, efficiency, and emissions.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore, Junior
Pre-Requisite(s): MEEM 4220(C) or ME 4220(C)

Michigan Tech Mobile Lab—Short Courses and Outreach