Facilities

Electric Mobility Lab (eMOB)

The Electric Mobility Lab (eMOB) is a core research facility under the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Smart Mobility and Logistics (IRC-SML) at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Saudi Arabia.

Our mission is to accelerate the transition toward sustainable electric and hydrogen-based mobility through innovation in power conversion, hybrid energy systems, and intelligent control.

Our research lies at the intersection of power electronics, energy management, and the economics of smart mobility infrastructures. We focus on developing high-efficiency converter technologies, hybrid battery–fuel-cell powertrains, grid-interactive charging systems, digital twin platforms, and electric mobility economics that support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and National Hydrogen Strategy.

We address key challenges in converter design, system integration, digital-twin modeling, hardware-in-the-loop validation, and AI-driven control, delivering technologies that enable electric and hydrogen mobility, vehicle-to-grid (V2G/V2X) interfaces, and intelligent charging ecosystems for both passenger and logistics applications.

Major Focus Areas:

  1. Power conversion for electrification of mobility:
    Design, model, and experimentally validate high-efficiency, wide–bandgap (SiC/GaN)-based DC-DC and DC-AC converters capable of handling multi-source energy integration, including batteries, fuel cells, and renewable inputs for electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.
  2. Hybrid powertrain development, energy management, and optimization frameworks: Develop adaptive and AI-driven energy management algorithms for EV/FCEV hybrid systems, enabling optimal power distribution between hydrogen fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors under dynamic driving conditions.
  3. Digital-twin and HIL-based validation for mobility power systems: Create high-fidelity digital twins and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test platforms for converters, drivetrains, and charging systems — enabling rapid control prototyping, fault emulation, and lifecycle prediction under realistic mission profiles.
  4. Electric mobility infrastructure’s modeling and economics: Develop bidirectional, grid-supportive charging systems with integrated vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-building (V2B), and renewable coupling functionalities. Ensure reliability, safety, and resilience in electric mobility infrastructure. Study synergies with other critical infrastructures, such as transportation, communication, and water supply system.

Expected Outcomes

eMOB aims to deliver tangible innovations that bridge advanced research with real-world applications in electric and hydrogen mobility.

  1. Prototype Technologies:
    • High-efficiency, wide-bandgap converter modules for EV and FCEV/FC trucks applications.
    • Smart bidirectional chargers and DC-microgrid systems supporting V2G/V2X functions.
  2. Commercialization & Industry Collaboration:
    • Transfer-ready converter and control solutions for automotive OEMs, charger manufacturers, and logistics operators.
    • Joint development projects with Saudi and global partners focused on clean transport and hydrogen energy.
  3. Digital-Twin & Validation Platforms:
    • End-to-end virtual–physical testing ecosystem reducing prototype time.
    • Certification and benchmarking services for mobility-power systems per IEC/ISO standards.
  4. Intelligent Energy Management Solutions:
    • AI-driven control for hybrid fuel-cell/battery vehicles to enhance range, efficiency, and lifetime.
    • Predictive maintenance and diagnostic tools for safe, continuous operation.
  5. Human Capital & National Impact:
  • Skilled researchers trained in power conversion, hydrogen energy, and mobility systems.
  • Contribution to Saudi Arabia’s goal of becoming a regional hub for sustainable, electric- and hydrogen-enabled transportation.

Equipment & Facilities

Current Facilities

  • Full EV testbed including training/research modules.
  • Configurable DC-DC converter modules up-to 1kW.
  • TI micro-controllers for PWM generations and prototype controlling.
  • DC sources.
  • Electronic loads, precision power analyzers, and high-bandwidth oscilloscopes.
  • OPARL-RT HIL simulation platforms for converter and drivetrain real time testing and Digital twin development.
  • Fuel cells and solar PV modules
  • Workstations for hybrid infrastructure modeling and economic studies