Competition battery course
Online course of 300 hours in motorsport batteries. 6 modules covering cell electrochemistry, racing pack design, the battery management system (BMS), on-track performance, safety, transport and testing, and a racing battery project, with UN/ECE Regulation No. 100, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria section 38.3, IEC 62660-1 and MATLAB/Simulink, with an assigned technical tutor.
Competition battery course — studying from Ireland
Ireland has a modest automotive footprint, with activity centred on component supply, automotive electronics, testing and aftermarket services rather than vehicle assembly. Motorsport and performance engineering are represented by teams, specialist workshops and engineering consultancies, often linked to the Irish motorsport community. Engineers in this area work on powertrain components, vehicle dynamics, sensor integration and testing for both established manufacturers and suppliers. Regulatory oversight for road vehicles comes from national and European type-approval bodies, while industry collaboration is coordinated through automotive and engineering associations.
Fees for Ireland: €448 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies are relevant for recognising automotive engineering qualifications?
In Ireland, Engineers Ireland is the principal professional body for engineers and runs chartered engineer registration. Automotive vehicle standards and roadworthiness fall under the Road Safety Authority and the National Car Test system. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so their recognition is for employers or the relevant body to decide. Confirm this with them before enrolling if it matters for your career.
Where do automotive and motorsport engineers typically work in Ireland, and do employers value online study?
Ireland has automotive supply chain and engineering activity, along with motorsport and vehicle-related design roles, though it is a smaller market than larger European countries. Employers usually weigh practical experience and proven skills heavily. An online private qualification can complement a CV, but whether it is valued depends on each employer, and no outcome can be guaranteed.
How do I fit this programme around work and what language level is needed?
Study is fully online and taught in English, so you need a good working command of English for technical reading and written assignments. Master's programmes are 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student receives an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so raise that with your employer early.
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
Understand the electrochemistry of lithium-ion cells.
Compare cell chemistries and formats for motorsport.
Design the configuration of a racing battery pack.
Specify the functions of the battery management system.
Analyse battery performance on track.
Apply safety and transport tests and standards.
Plan the response to incidents involving lithium batteries.
Who it's for
- Battery engineers developing packs for electric or hybrid vehicles.
- BMS engineers working on estimation and balancing algorithms.
- High-voltage technicians in workshops and racing teams.
- Electrical safety engineers.
- Track engineers in electric racing series.
- Battery logistics managers responsible for storage and transport.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter electric motorsport.
What you'll work with
- UN/ECE Regulation No. 100 (vehicle electrical safety)
- UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.3 (transport of lithium batteries)
- IEC 62660-1 (lithium-ion cells for vehicles, performance)
- IEC 62660-2 (lithium-ion cells, reliability and abuse)
- ISO 12405-4 (testing of lithium-ion packs)
- SAE J2464 (battery abuse testing)
- FIA Formula E Technical Regulations (electric single-seater rules)
- MATLAB/Simulink
- GT-SUITE
- Battery Design Studio
- COMSOL Multiphysics
6 modules
1.1How a lithium-ion cell works1.2NMC, NCA and LFP chemistries compared1.3Graphite and silicon anodes1.4Nominal voltage, capacity and energy1.5Energy density versus power density1.6Internal resistance and voltage drop1.7C-rate in charge and discharge1.8Cycle and calendar ageing1.9Cylindrical, prismatic and pouch formats1.10Practical: calculating the energy and power of a cell
2.1Series-parallel configuration and pack voltage2.2Sizing by race energy2.3Structure and impact protection2.4Electrical insulation and creepage distances2.5Interconnections and busbars2.6Contactors, fuses and disconnection2.7Weight and centre of gravity position2.8Standard batteries in Formula E and Extreme E2.9Hybrid batteries in LMDh prototypes2.10Workshop: conceptual design of an 800 V pack
3.1Measuring the voltage of each cell3.2State of charge (SOC) estimation3.3State of health (SOH) estimation3.4Passive and active cell balancing3.5Current limits according to temperature3.6Insulation fault detection3.7CAN communication with the control unit3.8Data logging and traceability3.9Centralised and distributed architectures3.10Lab: SOC algorithm by coulomb counting
4.1Available power versus state of charge4.2Voltage drop under full acceleration4.3Energy recovery and charge limits4.4Energy management in qualifying and the race4.5Degradation over the season4.6Fast charging at events4.7Interpreting BMS data4.8Comparing chemistries for motorsport4.9Regulatory energy restrictions4.10Case study: energy balance of a Formula E race
5.1Thermal runaway and its propagation5.2Mechanical, electrical and thermal abuse tests5.3Lithium battery transport tests5.4Storage and quarantine of damaged packs5.5Vehicle safety indicator lights5.6Marshals' rescue protocols5.7Extinguishing and managing lithium fires5.8End of life and cell recycling5.9Documentation for technical scrutineering5.10Case study: response plan for a damaged pack
6.1Definition of vehicle requirements6.2Selection of cell chemistry and format6.3Pack configuration6.4BMS specification6.5Preliminary thermal study6.6Safety test plan6.7Mass and cost analysis6.8Logistics and transport plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, Battery Design Studio and COMSOL Multiphysics, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: BMS data analysis, laboratory cell testing and safety plans for damaged packs. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: UN/ECE Regulation No. 100, UN Manual of Tests and Criteria section 38.3, IEC 62660-1, IEC 62660-2, ISO 12405-4, SAE J2464, FIA Formula E Technical Regulations.
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.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme 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 MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, Battery Design Studio and COMSOL Multiphysics, 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 need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme 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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