Master Thesis Worker Promoting energy efficient driving through a form of Eco Score

Thesis Worker at Volvo Cars

Welcome to explore the world of Volvo Cars by writing your thesis with us! As a thesis worker in our organization you are supported by a supervisor who follows you during your project. All thesis projects are arranged in business critical areas and therefore you will be able to contribute to our company purpose – providing freedom to move in a safe, sustainable and personal way – from day one! 

Title: Promoting energy efficient driving through a form of Eco Score

Background:
The era of Battery Electric vehicles has begun and people are becoming accustomed to their use of electricity, at the same time being eco friendly is still on many people's minds. While the awareness of the vehicle consumption becomes more important, how to behave and maneuver the vehicle in a manner that minimises the energy usage might not be as easy to comprehend. This is where Volvo would like to help the user, to not only become aware of what consumes energy to be able to minimise it, but also how the handling of the vehicle can change the energy consumption for the better.

Scope:
Investigate a strategy towards promoting users to do the correct choice in driving energy efficient / eco-friendly / economically.
Look into, for example, the use of the throttle and the function One Pedal Drive:
•    How to get users to avoid using OPD and the throttle in a manner that increase consumption?
•    How to get the information to the users what using OPD and the throttle means in terms of consumption?

Questions to explore:
•    When should the information of energy usage be presented to the user? For example, as an after trip analyses or during driving?
•    Where should the information of energy usage be presented to the user? For example, through an in-car app or mobile phone app?
•    How should the information of energy usage be presented to the user? 

Explore gamification to promote energy efficient usage without disturbing the driving experience, but rather enhancing it.

What it will include:
•    Investigation by interviews, user studies, benchmarking
•    Define use cases/scenarios
•    Define user needs
•    Visualise concepts/prototypes

What you ́ll bring
You are an analytical and reliable team player with good communication skills, comfortable taking the lead at the same time as you can act independently.
Pre-requisites
•    Pursuing a Master of Science in Interaction Design, Industrial Design or similar.
•    Driver’s license (B)
•    Due to Visa restrictions, we can only accept candidates that either are Swedish citizens or has a valid residence permit in an EU/EES member state.

Duration:
•    20 weeks / 30 ECTS
•    Starting date: December-February, exact date is flexible
•    Estimated end date: Summer 2025
•    Number of students: 1 or 2 students

Form of employment: Master thesis 
Location Gothenburg (Torslanda), Sweden

How to learn more
Attach your resume, courses and grades, and cover letter stating your interests within the given area and your thoughts and credentials. If you want more information about the project or simply learn a bit more about the team, please reach out to:
Industrial Supervisor: Micaela Nilsson (micaela.nilsson@volvocars.com)
Manager: Carina Larsson (carina.larsson@volvocars.com)

The Department
At Energy Management we design, research, deliver and verify functions and software systems to improve energy efficiency, minimize range anxiety and ensure a market-leading charging experience while balancing attributes using available data and given hardware.

Our team
We are 7 engineers with diverse backgrounds located in Gothenburg and have the overall responsibility to inform, educate and coach users in their electrification experience while driving. Some of our inputs are customer feedback, conclusions from benchmarks and lessons learned. The design team works closest with the development/programming teams that will implement the systems, but we collaborate with many different areas within Volvo Cars such as the teams responsible for charging, battery and thermal management, but also UX design and Product validation team. 

Volvo Cars - Driving change together​

Volvo Cars’ success is the outcome of a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive working environment. Today, we are one of the most well-known and respected car brands, with around 43,000 employees across the globe. At Volvo Cars, your career is designed around your skills and aspirations, allowing you to reach your fullest potential.​

By 2025, we aim to sell 1.2 million cars annually, with 50 per cent being electric cars and sold directly to customers mainly through digital channels. Make sure you’re in the front seat on this exciting journey as we pioneer the driving and electrification technologies of the future.