Our lab is where innovation in propulsion and energy recovery systems for electric and hybrid vehicles comes to life. On one workbench, an array of essential tools—oscilloscope, power supplies, and DSPs—allows our team to monitor and control every aspect of power flow and system performance in real time. This setup is vital for testing advanced motor drives and refining power electronics.
Nearby, the transmotor-based powertrain testbed stands ready. Equipped with a flywheel, transmotor, capacitor, and a PMSM, this system simulates real-world driving scenarios, enabling us to study kinetic energy recovery and optimize power distribution. Each component plays a role in pushing the boundaries of energy efficiency, moving us closer to more sustainable propulsion technologies for the vehicles of tomorrow.
Founded in the early 1980s, our Power Electronics and Motor Drives Lab has long been at the forefront of innovation in sustainable vehicle technology. In those early days, the lab was equipped with a modest yet ambitious array of experiment stations, motor drive test beds, and a pioneering stationary test bed designed for hybrid electric vehicle traction systems—a rarity at the time. These setups, though simpler by today’s standards, enabled groundbreaking research that set the stage for modern electric and hybrid propulsion technologies.
Back then, the lab was filled with large, specialized computers and custom-built workstations, running proprietary simulation software for power electronics and motor drive systems. Researchers worked with what now seem like vintage instruments, yet these tools supported crucial developments, testing systems that spanned from just a few watts to multi-megawatt power levels.
Today, while we’re equipped with the latest technologies, this legacy equipment serves as a reminder of the lab’s long journey. It represents decades of progress and dedication, showing how each generation built upon the last to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Now affiliated with specialty labs across Texas A&M and beyond, our lab embodies the same spirit of exploration that began over forty years ago.