Postgraduate Diploma in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors. 8 modules covering UNE-EN 15194:2017+A1:2023, ISO 4210-6:2023 and SolidWorks. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors — studying from South Africa
Two-wheeler transport is significant in South Africa, both for commuting and for delivery services, and the motorcycle and scooter market has grown steadily. Local assembly and distribution of motorcycles and scooters are supported by importers and manufacturers, and the sector interacts with road safety regulation and licensing. Engineers working on two-wheelers focus on chassis design, braking systems, emissions and rider safety. Growing interest in electric scooters and light mobility is also shaping demand.
Fees for South Africa: R 33 400 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Professional engineering registration runs through ECSA, and motorcycle-related standards and testing involve bodies such as the SABS. Whether a SEIUM qualification is recognised is for employers or the relevant body to decide, so check before enrolling.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in the two-wheeler sector?
Motorcycle manufacturers, importers, dealers and component suppliers may value engineering depth in vehicle dynamics, powertrains or design. A private qualification can add to your profile, but it does not carry official status, so its impact depends on employer preference and your existing experience. Speak to potential employers to understand their view.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is fully online and taught in English, so you can study from South Africa without a student visa. Master's programmes require 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments and employer sponsorship is possible. Ask SEIUM about time-zone expectations and weekly workload before enrolling.
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 the architecture of an electric bicycle according to its use and the EPAC legal framework.
Select materials and manufacturing processes for frames.
Calculate frames and forks for strength, stiffness and fatigue.
Plan the mechanical tests required for CE marking.
Size hub and mid-drive motors for different usage profiles.
Configure assistance control and battery safely.
Validate the complete propulsion system integration.
Who it's for
- Bicycle design engineer who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- Structural calculation engineer who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- Electric motor engineer who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- Power electronics engineer who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- Testing and certification engineer who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- E-bike product manager who wants to specialise in E-Bike Engineering: Frames and Motors.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter electric bicycle manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- UNE-EN 15194:2017+A1:2023
- ISO 4210-6:2023
- ISO 4210-2:2023
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230
- Directive 2006/42/EC
- EN 50604-1:2016
- EN 17404:2022
- Regulation (EU) No 168/2013
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Typologies: urban, trekking, cargo and mountain1.2EPAC versus L1e-B speed pedelec1.3Geometry: angles, reach, stack and trail1.4Mass distribution and centre of gravity1.5Front hub, rear hub or mid-drive motor1.6Integrated versus external battery1.7Torque, cadence and speed sensors1.8Assistance cut-off at 25 km/h1.9Market trends and system weight1.10Practical: comparison of three commercial architectures
2.16061 and 7005 aluminium alloys2.2Hydroforming and tube tapering2.3TIG welding and T6 heat treatment2.4Carbon fibre laminates2.5Moulding and autoclave curing2.6Chromium-molybdenum steel and titanium2.7Battery housing integration2.8Finishes and corrosion protection2.9Quality control in manufacturing2.10Case study: material for a cargo bicycle frame
3.1Pedalling, braking and pothole loads3.2Finite element modelling3.3Joints and stress concentration3.4High-cycle fatigue and S-N curves3.5Palmgren-Miner cumulative damage3.6Lateral and torsional stiffness3.7Topology optimisation of the frame3.8Forks, headsets and stems3.9Correlation with strain gauges3.10Workshop: FEM analysis of a frame with mid-drive motor
4.1Fatigue from pedalling forces4.2Horizontal forces and mass drop4.3Fork testing to ISO 4210-64.4Brakes and braking distance4.5EN 15194 requirements4.6Machinery Directive and Regulation4.7Technical file and declaration of conformity4.8Test benches and fixtures4.9Analysis of in-service failures4.10Laboratory: test plan for frame and fork
5.1Permanent magnet synchronous motors5.2Hub motor with and without gearbox5.3Mid-drive motor with planetary gearbox5.4Torque, power and efficiency curves5.5NdFeB magnets and concentrated windings5.6Basic electromagnetic design5.7Motor thermal management5.8Drive unit noise and vibration5.9Motor sealing5.10Practical: modelling a hub motor with Motor-CAD
6.1Controller and three-phase inverter6.2Vector and block control6.3Torque-proportional assistance algorithms6.4Speed and power limitation6.518650 and 21700 cell packs6.6Protection, balancing and state of charge6.7Battery safety to EN 50604-16.8Electromagnetic compatibility to EN 174046.9CAN communication and mobile applications6.10Laboratory: calibration of the assistance curve
7.1Motor integration into the frame7.2Internal wiring and connectors7.3Chain, belt or hub drive transmission7.4Hydraulic disc brakes7.5Road testing and range7.6Durability of the complete system on the bench7.7Maintenance and diagnostics7.8Anti-tampering measures7.9Cost and manufacturability7.10Case study: validation of a cargo bicycle
8.1Product specification8.2Architecture and geometry8.3Frame design8.4Calculation and simulation8.5Propulsion system selection8.6Battery and electronics8.7Test plan8.8Cost and manufacturing8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Motor-CAD, MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: finite element analysis of a frame with mid-drive motor, certification test plan for frame and fork, and calibration of the assistance curve with a torque sensor. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Define the architecture of an electric bicycle according to its use and the EPAC legal framework.
Select materials and manufacturing processes for frames.
Calculate frames and forks for strength, stiffness and fatigue.
Plan the mechanical tests required for CE marking.
Size hub and mid-drive motors for different usage profiles.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
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 comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with SolidWorks, Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Motor-CAD, MATLAB/Simulink. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An own diploma issued by SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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