Postgraduate DiplomaOff-Road, Special Vehicles & Machinery Applications open

Diploma in Electric Axles for Off-Road Vehicles

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in electric axles for off-road vehicles. 8 modules covering traction electrification, electric machines, reduction gears and differentials, power electronics, mechanical integration, traction control and validation, with ISO 6469-3, ISO 6336 and Ansys Motor-CAD, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Diploma in Electric Axles for Off-Road Vehicles — studying from the United Kingdom

Off-road, special vehicles and heavy machinery are important to the United Kingdom's manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Companies in the Midlands, the North East and Scotland produce construction equipment, agricultural machinery, specialist vehicles and mining equipment. JCB, headquartered in Staffordshire, is a prominent example, alongside many specialist suppliers. Engineers work on hydraulics, powertrain, chassis and control systems, meeting regulatory and safety requirements for working machines.

Fees for the United Kingdom: £1,070 (Pound sterling), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in the United Kingdom

  • Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA)
  • Construction Equipment Association (CEA)
  • Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

Typical roles

  • Off-Highway Vehicle Engineer
  • Hydraulics Engineer
  • Agricultural Machinery Engineer
  • Construction Machinery Design Engineer

Questions from the United Kingdom

Are there UK professional bodies that recognise off-road and specialist vehicle engineering training?

Relevant UK bodies include the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Institute of the Motor Industry and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers. Recognition for membership usually depends on accredited qualifications and experience. SEIUM's courses are private and not accredited by any national body, so the relevant institution would decide independently whether to accept any of the training.

Will UK employers in construction, agriculture or specialist vehicles value this qualification?

Employers in these sectors often prioritise practical skills, machinery experience and familiarity with safety standards. A private online qualification may strengthen an application where it evidences specialist knowledge, particularly through a final project, but its value is decided by each employer. Ask prospective employers how they regard such training.

Can I study alongside work in the UK, and how are fees handled?

Programmes are fully online, taught in English and fit around work schedules, with an assigned technical tutor for guidance. Study ranges from 300 to 1,900 hours depending on the programme. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. No visa is needed because you study from within the UK.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Compare architectures for electrifying off-road traction.

02

Select and design electric traction machines.

03

Size integrated reduction gears and differentials.

04

Integrate power electronics into the axle.

05

Solve mechanical integration in harsh environments.

06

Develop traction control strategies.

07

Plan the validation and safety of the electric axle.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Electric powertrain engineers developing traction systems.
  • Transmission design engineers working on gears and differentials.
  • Power electronics engineers designing inverters and motor control.
  • Vehicle dynamics engineers tuning traction and stability.
  • Vehicle validation engineers planning bench and track testing.
  • Off-highway electrification specialists.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into off-road vehicles.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • ISO 6469-3 (electrical safety of electrically propelled vehicles)
  • ISO 6336 (load capacity of spur and helical gears)
  • IEC 60034-1 (rating and performance of rotating electrical machines)
  • ISO 281 (rolling bearing dynamic load ratings and rating life)
  • ISO 13766-1 (electromagnetic compatibility of earth-moving machinery)
  • ISO 19014 (functional safety of earth-moving machinery)
  • IEC 60529 (IP degrees of protection provided by enclosures)
  • Ansys Motor-CAD
  • KISSsoft
  • Romax
  • MATLAB/Simulink
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Fully electric and hybrid architectures
  2. 1.2Central motor versus electric axles
  3. 1.3In-wheel and hub motors
  4. 1.4Torque requirements for launch and gradients
  5. 1.5Load cycles in machinery and 4×4 vehicles
  6. 1.648 V and high-voltage systems
  7. 1.7Advantages in traction and control
  8. 1.8Integration into existing chassis
  9. 1.9State of the e-axle market
  10. 1.10Workshop: calculating torque and power for an off-road vehicle
  1. 2.1Permanent magnet synchronous motors
  2. 2.2Induction motors
  3. 2.3Switched reluctance motors
  4. 2.4Torque-speed curves and field weakening
  5. 2.5Copper and iron losses
  6. 2.6Liquid and oil cooling
  7. 2.7Insulation and thermal classes
  8. 2.8Design with Ansys Motor-CAD
  9. 2.9Testing according to IEC 60034-1
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: preliminary design of a traction motor
  1. 3.1Single- and two-stage gear trains
  2. 3.2Planetary hub reduction gears
  3. 3.3Open and locking differentials
  4. 3.4Torque vectoring
  5. 3.5Gear load capacity ISO 6336
  6. 3.6Bearing life ISO 281
  7. 3.7Lubrication and losses
  8. 3.8Gear noise and vibration
  9. 3.9Design with KISSsoft and Romax
  10. 3.10Lab: sizing a planetary reduction gear
  1. 4.1Three-phase inverters and modulation
  2. 4.2IGBT and SiC semiconductors
  3. 4.3Field-oriented vector control
  4. 4.4Inverter-motor-gearbox integration
  5. 4.5Inverter thermal management
  6. 4.6Electromagnetic compatibility ISO 13766-1
  7. 4.7Protections and safe disconnection
  8. 4.8Communication with the vehicle controller
  9. 4.9Fault diagnosis
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: torque control in Simulink
  1. 5.1Loads on rigid axles and suspensions
  2. 5.2Protection against impacts and stones
  3. 5.3IP67 and IP69K sealing
  4. 5.4Wading and mud ingress
  5. 5.5Unsprung mass and dynamics
  6. 5.6Mountings and vibration
  7. 5.7Rugged high-voltage connectors
  8. 5.8Maintenance and accessibility
  9. 5.9Integration of the service brake
  10. 5.10Case study: fitting an electric axle to a utility vehicle
  1. 6.1Per-wheel traction control
  2. 6.2Electronic differential lock
  3. 6.3Regenerative braking and hill descent control
  4. 6.4Torque distribution between axles
  5. 6.5Grip estimation
  6. 6.6Terrain modes
  7. 6.7Stability on side slopes
  8. 6.8Calibration on sand, mud and rock
  9. 6.9Integration with ABS brakes
  10. 6.10Lab: simulation of traction on a gradient
  1. 7.1Electrical safety according to ISO 6469-3
  2. 7.2Functional safety ISO 19014 and ISO 26262
  3. 7.3Full axle bench testing
  4. 7.4Accelerated durability testing
  5. 7.5Vibration and shock IEC 60068-2
  6. 7.6Climatic testing
  7. 7.7Validation on an off-road track
  8. 7.8Failure analysis
  9. 7.9Vehicle type approval
  10. 7.10Case study: validation plan for an e-axle
  1. 8.1Definition of the vehicle and the duty cycle
  2. 8.2Axle specification
  3. 8.3Motor selection
  4. 8.4Reduction gear design
  5. 8.5Inverter and control
  6. 8.6Mechanical integration
  7. 8.7Validation plan
  8. 8.8Cost assessment
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Motor-CAD, KISSsoft, Romax and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: bench testing of complete electric axles, traction validation on off-road tracks and calibration of torque control on sand and mud. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: ISO 6469-3, ISO 6336, IEC 60034-1, ISO 281, ISO 13766-1, ISO 19014, IEC 60529.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ISO 6469-3, ISO 6336 and ISO 19014 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Ansys Motor-CAD, KISSsoft, Romax and MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:The complete design of an electric axle for an off-road vehicle, from specification to validation plan and cost assessment, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Vehicle and specification
Define the vehicle and its duty cycle and specify the axle.
Motor and gearbox
Select the motor and design the reduction gear.
Inverter and control
Define the inverter and the traction control strategy.
Integration and validation
Solve the mechanical integration and draw up the validation plan.
Final project
Present the documented axle design with its cost assessment, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Electric powertrain engineerTransmission design engineerPower electronics engineerVehicle dynamics engineerVehicle validation engineerOff-highway electrification specialist
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • An 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with Ansys Motor-CAD, KISSsoft, Romax and MATLAB/Simulink, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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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