Course detail

Alternative Powertrain and Energy Storage

FSI-QAPAcad. year: 2025/2026

Methods of increasing the efficiency of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen engine, reciprocating piston engines, Stirling engines, , electric drives, hybrid drives, fuel cells, electric accumulators, pressure accumulators, thermal accumulators, recovery of energy dissipated during vehicle braking.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Josef Štětina, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Automotive Engineering (ÚADI)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge at the level of the subject Theory of power unit energy transformation.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The credit is conditional on active participation in the exercises and preparation of the project.


Seminars are obligatory, checked by a teacher. The way of compensation of missed lessons (in justified cases) is solved individually with the course guarantee person.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with an overview of alternative power units and modern ways of increasing the performance, economy, and environmental parameters of drives, in connection with the subjects related to power units.


The course widens the knowledge of theory of internal combustion engines and improves students´ position on the labour market.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

PISTOIA, G. Electric and hybrid vehicles: power sources, models, sustainability, infrastructure and the market. 1. Boston: Elsevier, [2010]. ISBN 978-0-444-53565-8. (EN)
Poulton M. L.: Alternative engines for road vehicles
Uživatelská dokumentace programu GT Suite (EN)
Stone, R.: Introduction to internal combustion engines

Recommended reading

Poulton M. L.: Alternative engines for road vehicles
PISTOIA, G. Electric and hybrid vehicles: power sources, models, sustainability, infrastructure and the market. 1. Boston: Elsevier, [2010]. ISBN 978-0-444-53565-8. (EN)
Stone, R.: Introduction to internal combustion engines

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-AAE-P Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme N-ADI-P Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    2 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Computer-assisted exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Josef Štětina, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Alternative cycles, Stirling, Atkinson, Muller, Ericsson
  2. Hybrid drives, combustion and electric drive cooperation
  3. Electric drives
  4. Gas engines
  5. Hydrogen drives
  6. Reciprocating piston engines
  7. Stirling engines
  8. Fuel cells
  9. Energy storage
  10. Energy recovery
  11. Optimal drive control
  12. Batteries
  13. Energy saving, efficiency improvement