TRAIN-FAST (MSCA-DN)

The European Commission aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Transportation, responsible for one-third of energy-related CO₂ emissions, is undergoing a profound transition toward electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy integration. Ultra-fast charging (UFC) technology – enabling 20 % to 80 % battery recharge in under 10 minutes at power levels of 350 kW and above for light-duty vehicles and up to megawatt-scale for heavy-duty trucks – is critical to replicating conventional refueling convenience and accelerating EV adoption. TRAIN-FAST aims to train the next generation of leading scientists and engineers to advance UFC systems within the broader electric-mobility landscape. The program adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining advanced engineering, data science, techno-economics, and socio-behavioral research to address complex cross-sector challenges. The consortium brings together leading European universities, industrial partners, and a governmental organization – all key actors needed to tackle these challenges and provide our Doctoral Candidates (DCs) with the best foundation for addressing the interconnected challenges of UFC deployment.

Project duration: 02/2027 - 01/2031
Official Website: https://train-fast.dtu.dk/
 

DC10: Provision of Grid Ancillary Services by UFC Systems
Click here for full announcement of doctoral scholarship

The project aims to design, implement, and experimentally validate novel ancillary services provided by UFC systems to support flexible power system operation. First, the requirements and relevant regulatory frameworks will be analysed to identify the technical and regulatory conditions for the provision of ancillary services. Based on this analysis, suitable use cases and operational scenarios will be developed for the decentralized provision of system ancillary services. Novel control strategies for charging station controllers will subsequently be developed to allow UFC systems to actively contribute to grid flexibility. Their performance and practical feasibility will be investigated through real-time simulations and hardware-in-the-loop experiments under representative system conditions.

Planned Secondments: 
- Spirii ApS (Non-academic, 6 Months, Denmark),
- Cardiff University (Academic, 6 Months, United Kingdom).

DC11: Bi-Directional Capability of UFC Systems for Supporting Grid Island Operation
 Click here for full announcement of doctoral scholarship

This project focuses on the development and experimental assessment of grid-forming bi-directional UFC systems for temporary grid-island operation and grid restoration. First, the technical requirements and relevant regulatory frameworks for grid-forming operation and temporary islanding will be analysed. Based on this analysis, suitable use cases and operational scenarios will be developed for the island operation of grid sections supported by bi-directional UFC systems. Subsequently, advanced control algorithms will be developed and implemented to enable bi-directional chargers to optimally support grid restoration following faults. The developed approaches will then be validated through real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop experiments under representative grid restoration scenarios.

Planned Secondments: 
- EVTEC GmbH (Non-academic, 6 Months, Germany),
- Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (Academic, 6 Months, Denmark).

DC12: Advanced Simulation and Testing Methods for UFC Systems Interoperability
Click here for full announcement of doctoral scholarship

This project seeks to establish advanced simulation and experimental methodologies that facilitate the testing, validation, and accelerated deployment of novel UFC technologies. The work will consider the applicable technical standards and regulatory conditions before defining representative use cases for evaluating grid integration and emerging charging functionalities. Dedicated experimentation frameworks will be developed to systematically examine the interoperability of charging systems with grid infrastructure and other relevant components. Their suitability will subsequently be demonstrated through experimental tests covering representative operating conditions and application scenarios.

Planned Secondments: 
- ef.Ruhr GmbH (Non-academic, 6 Months, Germany),
- Politecnico di Torino (Academic, 6 Months, Italy).

Dr.-Ing. Alfio Spina