Efficient Powertrain Solutions

About the research group

The Efficient Powertrain Solutions (EPS) research group supports the end-to-end process of powertrain development from fuel to energy and emission management while its research focuses on combustion engines.

The research group is committed to developing excellence in methods of testing, simulation and control, building on detail knowledge. The scale and application areas of the used methods make the research group internationally unique.

The research group aims to develop efficient heavy-duty transport and the energy sector with an outcome of zero or even negative emissions impact. The goal is to maximise overall powertrain energy efficiency and develop integrated powertrain control solutions. This is done by providing innovative tools for design optimisation of powertrain configurations and control strategies.

Latest updates

Hydrogen takes a major step forward in maritime – University of Vaasa to coordinate ambitious European demonstration

Wärtsilä CEO Håkan Agnevall: The energy transition requires direction and the ability to adapt quickly

Hitachi Energy and the University of Vaasa begin research collaboration – Optimising transformer efficiency and recovering heat to improve the en-ergy and cost efficiency of hydrogen production

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Research projects

Project	Duration	Actors
H4PERION - Hydrogen FOR Performance Enhancement and Reliable ICE OperatioN	06/2026 - 05/2030	Technology and Innovations, VEBIC, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
Heat and Energy Recovery of Electrolyser Systems (HEROES)	02/2026 - 01/2028	Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
PAVEWAY — Cross-Domain Requirement Management	01/2026 - 12/2028	Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
Selective electrolysis of nitrogen oxides to ammonia	09/2025 - 03/2026	Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
Integrated Hydrogen-Argon Power Cycle (iHAPC)	01/2025 - 12/2027	Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions, Strategic business development
FOR-BLEND - Carbon-neutral low-processed fuel blending component for existing infrastructure	10/2024 - 09/2027	Renewable energy, Efficient Powertrain Solutions, Technology and Innovations
AINA - Ammonia energy conversion and social acceptance	07/2024 - 06/2027	Renewable energy, Efficient Powertrain Solutions, Technology and Innovations
Flexible Clean Propulsion Technologies	05/2024 - 04/2027	Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions, Renewable energy
Future Proof	03/2024 - 12/2025	Technology and Innovations, VEBIC, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
DAZE - Data Analytics for Zero Emission Marine	09/2023 - 08/2026	VEBIC, Digital Economy, Technology and Innovations, Renewable energy, Efficient Powertrain Solutions

Latest publications

Publication year	Publication	Authors
2026	The Interplay Between Combustion and Component Thermal Loading in Next-Generation Marine Engines Employing Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition	Kakoee, Alireza; Golbaghi, Kian; Cafari, Alberto; Vasudev, Aneesh; Mehranfar, Sadegh; Andwari, Amin Mahmoudzadeh; Smulter, Ben; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2026	A novel parallel solver using decoupled chemical–physical integration for rapid multizone simulation of reactivity controlled combustion in engines	Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Moradi, Jamshid; Golbaghi, Kian; Heidarabadi, Shadab; Andwari, Amin; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2026	A system-level simulation framework for developing next-generation marine gas engines	Vasudev, Aneesh; Kim, Jeyoung; Golbaghi, Kian; Axelsson, Martin; Smulter, Ben; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2026	Predictive adaptive reactivity-controlled compression ignition for a dual-fuel marine engine: A model-in-the-loop study	Storm, Xiaoguo; Shamekhi, Amir-Mohammad; Raisi Esfarjani, Mohammad; Modabberian, Amin; Vasudev, Aneesh; Zenger, Kai; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2026	Limits of high-pressure hydrogen jet combustion in argon power cycle-based energy systems	Chitsaz, Iman; Kakoee, Alireza; Ahammed, Sajid; Salahi, Mahdi; Andwari, Amin Mahmoudzadeh; Ahmad, Zeeshan; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2026	Influence of temperature on the lubrication properties of Diesel, HVO, and pyrolysis oils from waste feedstocks	Kuszewski, Hubert; Jaworski, Artur; Szpica, Dariusz; Hunicz, Jacek; Woś, Paweł; Balawender, Krzysztof
2026	Large eddy simulation of auto-igniting methanol/n-dodecane blend spray flames	Shrestha, Bishal; Balogun, Fatimoh; Wan, Kevin; Yi, Junghwa; Wang-Alho, Huaying; Karimkashi, Shervin; Sirvio, Katriina; Manin, Julien; Mikulski, Maciej; Hyvönen, Jari; Kaario, Ossi
2025	A novel approach to extending the operating range of a low temperature combustion engine using variable lug offset with hypocycloid gear mechanism	Polat, Seyfi; Solmaz, Hamit
2025	Thermodynamic analysis of performance and emissions of a microwave-assisted ignition automotive engine: A numerical approach	Jafari, Mohammadjavad; Shamekhi, Amir Hossein; Shamekhi, Amir-Mohammad
2025	Catalytic Aftertreatment Systems for Combustion Exhaust Gases from Future Hydrogen, Ammonia and e-HC Engines	Maunula, T.; Kallinen, K.; Wolff, T.; Mikulski, M.

Former Renewable Energy research group's publications

Formerly, the Efficient Powertrain Solutions (EPS) research group was part of the Renewable Energy research group.

Publication year	Publication	Authors
2026	Mobilizing sustainable energy – the importance of rural regions, small units and energy villages	Girgibo, Nebiyu; Peura, Pekka; Haapanen, Ari
2023	Waste Plastic Pyrolytic Oil Blends as Valuable Fuels for Modern Compression Ignition Engines	Hunicz, Jacek; Rybak, Arkadiusz; Duda, Kamil; Sivalingam, Murugan; Mikulski, Maciej
2023	Towards Real-Time Combustion Phase Estimation for linear RCCI Model-Predictive Control Design	Modabberian, Amin; Storm, Xiaoguo; Vasudev, Aneesh; Zenger, Kai; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2023	Machine Learning Methods for Emissions Prediction in Combustion Engines with Multiple Cylinders	Nguyen Khac, Hoang; Modabberian, Amin; Zenger, Kai; Niskanen, Kalle; West, Anton; Zhang, Yejun; Silvola, Elias; Lendormy, Eric; Storm, Xiaoguo; Mikulski, Maciej
2023	双钻头自平衡钻进系统用多通道连续缆管设计 [Design of multi-channel continuous cable duct for double-bit self-balancing drilling system]	Zhao, Yan; Ai, Hongxin; Gao, Ke; Zhang, Congshan; Lyu, Xiaoshu; Xie, Xiaobo
2023	钻孔救援连续缆管储放设备研制 [Development of storage equipment of continuous cable pipe for borehole rescue]	Gao, Ke; Niu, Xin; Zhao, Yan; Qin, Xiaolin; Lyu, Xiaoshu; Xie, Xiaobo
2023	Numerical Investigation of Ammonia-Diesel Fuelled Engine Operated in RCCI Mode	Fakhari, Amir Hossein; Gharehghani, Ayat; Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Mahmoudzadeh Andwari, Amin; Mikulski, Maciej; Hunicz, Jacek; Könnö, Juho
2023	Artificial intelligence (AI)-based optimization of power electronic converters for improved power system stability and performance	Gros, Ioana-Cornelia; Lü, Xiaoshu; Oprea, Claudiu; Lu, Tao; Pintilie, Lucian
2023	A Predictive 1D Modeling Framework for Reactivity-Controlled Compression Ignition Engines, via a Chemistry-Based, Multizone Combustion Object	Kakoee, Alireza; Vasudev, Aneesh; Smulter, Ben; Hyvonen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
2023	Proposing a Hybrid Thermal Management System Based on Phase Change Material/Metal Foam for Lithium-Ion Batteries	Saeedipour, Soheil; Gharehghani, Ayat; Ahbabi Saray, Jabraeil; Andwari, Amin Mahmoudzadeh; Mikulski, Maciej