Master Thesis -Development of a Virtual Validation Framework for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
Göteborg, SE, 417 15
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Background
The transition towards sustainable transportation requires efficient development and validation methods for next-generation propulsion technologies. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) offer a promising solution for demanding transport applications, but their development relies heavily on extensive physical testing campaigns covering areas such as fuel cell control, thermal management, energy management, safety systems, vehicle performance, and durability.
To support faster development cycles and reduce dependence on prototype vehicles, Volvo Group is increasing the use of simulation-driven development and virtual validation. Recent analysis of FCEV commissioning and validation activities has shown that a significant portion of existing physical test cases could potentially be assessed through simulation-based methods. By transferring suitable validation activities into virtual environments, development teams can identify issues earlier, improve simulation maturity, and support the company's left-shift validation strategy by moving verification activities from physical prototypes to virtual simulation earlier in the development cycle.
This thesis will investigate how physical validation activities can be systematically transformed into virtual validation scenarios and implemented within Volvo's Global Simulation Platform (GSP). The work will contribute to the development of a methodology that enables simulation-driven verification of FCEV functions and systems.
Thesis Tasks
The students will:
- Review and classify existing FCEV validation activities and test cases.
- Develop a methodology for converting physical validation tests into virtual validation scenarios and automated simulation-based test cases.
- Implement representative virtual validation scenarios in Volvo's Global Simulation Platform (GSP).
- Develop an automated regression test framework to execute and assess virtual validation test cases following model updates.
- Compare simulation results with available vehicle test data and assess the accuracy and applicability of the virtual validation framework.
- Investigate simulation confidence, limitations, and requirements for virtual validation.
- As a secondary objective, provide recommendations for expanding the Virtual Validation Framework to additional FCEV systems, increasing simulation coverage, and supporting future Digital Twin capabilities within GSP.
The project aims to establish a framework for virtual validation of FCEVs and clarify the opportunities and limitations of replacing physical testing with simulation-based methods.
Candidate Profile
- The thesis will be conducted in collaboration with the Software Solutions team at Volvo Group Trucks Technology and is intended for two Master's students.
- A background in vehicle engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, systems engineering, automatic control, or a related discipline.
- Experience in dynamic system modeling and simulation.
- Knowledge of vehicle systems and control strategies.
- Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink.
- An interest in virtual validation, Digital Twin technologies, and simulation-driven development.
- Experience with model development, scripting, simulation automation, and MIL/SIL environments. Familiarity with AI-assisted engineering tools such as GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Copilot, or similar technologies is considered an advantage.
Project start: January 2027
Contact: Hong Yang, Industrial Supervisor, Volvo TTI, Performance Management, H2 & FC Value Chain, Göteborg, Sweden
Email: hong.yang@volvo.com
Last application date: 2026.12.07
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