Course on energy density and specific power
Online course of 300 hours in energy density and specific power. 6 modules covering energy and power metrics, electrochemical limits, kinetic limitations, pack-level density and the impact on the vehicle and application, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Define and correctly calculate energy and power densities.
Explain the electrochemical limits of specific energy.
Analyse the kinetic limitations that determine power.
Evaluate the effect of integration on pack-level density.
Relate density, mass and performance in different applications.
Interpret manufacturers' declared technical figures rigorously.
Size a pack by balancing energy and power.
Who it's for
- Battery sizing engineers.
- Cell product engineers.
- Technical benchmarking analysts.
- Aerospace battery engineers.
- Energy storage systems engineers.
- High-energy materials researchers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the automotive industry.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62660-1 (performance testing of lithium-ion cells for vehicles)
- SAE J1798 (performance rating of electric vehicle battery modules)
- ISO 12405-4 (performance testing of lithium-ion packs and systems)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 (batteries and waste batteries)
- UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.3 (transport testing of lithium batteries)
- IEC 62620 (lithium batteries for industrial applications)
- UNECE Regulation No. 100 (electrical safety of the powertrain)
- BatPaC (Argonne National Laboratory)
- PyBaMM
- GT-AutoLion
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Specific energy in Wh/kg and energy density in Wh/L1.2Specific power in W/kg and power density1.3Material, cell, module and pack levels1.4Nominal versus usable energy1.5Continuous power and pulse power1.6Dependence on temperature and SoC1.7The Ragone plot1.8Comparison with fuels and hydrogen1.9Ambiguities in commercial figures1.10Practical exercise: densities from a datasheet
2.1Specific capacity of cathodes and anodes2.2Cell voltage and electrochemical window2.3Electrode loading and coating thickness2.4Porosity and active material fraction2.5Silicon and lithium-metal anodes2.6High-nickel and high-voltage cathodes2.7Mass of inactive components2.8The energy-power trade-off in the electrode2.9Energy density roadmaps2.10Lab: cell model with BatPaC
3.1Internal resistance and voltage drop3.2Lithium diffusion and ionic transport3.3Thin electrodes for high power3.4Power cells for hybrid vehicles3.5Supercapacitors and hybrid storage systems3.6Joule heating3.7Allowable power during fast charging3.8Available power at low temperature3.9Standardised power tests3.10Case study: a power cell for a hybrid
4.1Cell-to-pack integration factor4.2Volumetric gain from cell-to-pack4.3Mass of housing, cooling and electronics4.4Lightweight materials for pack housings4.5Structural battery integrated into the body4.6Impact of safety on pack density4.7Density in motorcycles, cars and trucks4.8Gravimetric analysis of recent commercial packs4.9Pack voltage and wiring mass4.10Workshop: density benchmarking of commercial packs
5.1Battery mass and energy consumption5.2The mass spiral in electric vehicles5.3Range versus required power5.4Requirements for electric aircraft and eVTOL5.5Payload in heavy vehicles5.6Cost per kWh and cost per kW5.7Energy density and sustainability5.8Laboratory verification of declared figures5.9Technical communication of performance5.10Case study: a battery for an urban eVTOL
6.1Energy and peak power requirements6.2Chosen cell and its justification6.3Resulting series-parallel configuration6.4Estimated pack mass and volume6.5Power check under extreme conditions6.6Comparison with alternative cells6.7Sensitivity to temperature and ageing6.8Assessment of the energy-power trade-off6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with full-time work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is BatPaC (Argonne National Laboratory), PyBaMM, GT-AutoLion and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: sizing a pack for a high-performance vehicle, laboratory verification of declared energy density and comparison of commercial pack densities.
Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: IEC 62660-1; SAE J1798; ISO 12405-4; Regulation (EU) 2023/1542; UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.3; IEC 62620; UNECE Regulation No. 100.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with BatPaC (Argonne National Laboratory), PyBaMM, GT-AutoLion and MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you only need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme's software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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