Efficient Powertrain Solutions

The research group Efficient Powertrain Solutions (EPS) operates in the School of Technology and Innovations at the University of Vaasa.

EPS supports the end-to-end process of powertrain development from fuel to energy and emission management while its research focuses on combustion engines.

EPS 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.

figure including emission management, varying fuel properties, energy management

Mission

The EPS has the mission to develop efficient heavy-duty transport and the energy sector with an outcome of zero or even negative emissions impact.

Vision

The goal is to maximize 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.

EPS bridges fundamental research and industry application

EPS works on the interface between fundamental research and industry application with focus on domains that are strategically important for Finland’s economy, that is the marine, non-road and stationary power generation sectors. These are the sectors for which combustion engines will remain the prime mover as there is no real feasible alternative.

Engine R&D stages, Experimental research, Combustion model type, Fundamental research, Technology readiness level, Applied Research

EPS Research group in a nutshell

EPS is one of the largest
research groups at the
University of Vaasa.

At the same time, EPS is
the largest powertrain
focused research group
in Finland.

The group consists of more
than 40 persons:

professors
post-docs
researchers
doctoral researchers
project managers
laboratory managers
laboratory engineers

The group is led by
Professor Maciej Mikulski.

EPS gains domain knowledge through various projects from combustion and engine development, aftertreatment research and electric-hybrid energy management.

The work is built on a model-based development paradigm, mastering the enabling methods in analytical fuel research, power train testing, simulation and control development.

Integrating these methods in coordinated powertrain development framework provides a key advantage in the EPS research group’s work.

EPS is working in state-of-the-art fuel and engine laboratories with several test benches for mid-speed and high-speed engines.

EPS news and events

21.03.2025 Energy

EnergyWeek 2025 brought together researchers, policymakers and industry leaders in Vaasa – discussions highlighted innovative energy solutions, and collaboration between universities and companies

13.02.2025 Co-creation

Research and Competence Center for Engine Technology in Vaasa

27.01.2025 Insights

University of Vaasa awarded its best research and teaching acts

Show more news

Projects

Project	Duration	Funders
FOR-BLEND - Carbon-neutral low-processed fuel blending component for existing infrastructure	10/2024 - 09/2027	EU - Interreg Aurora, Lapin liitto, Region Norrbotten
AINA - Ammonia energy conversion and social acceptance	07/2024 - 06/2027	Business Finland, Companies
Flexible Clean Propulsion Technologies	05/2024 - 04/2027	Business Finland, Companies
DAZE - Data Analytics for Zero Emission Marine	09/2023 - 08/2026	Business Finland, Companies
CASEMATE - Computationally Aided Systems Engineering for Marine Advanced Technology for The Environment	10/2022 - 09/2025	Business Finland, Companies
Silent Engine	10/2022 - 09/2025	EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), Business Finland, Companies
CHEK - deCarbonising sHipping by Enabling Key technology symbiosis on real vessel concept designs	06/2021 - 05/2024	EU - Horizon
Clean Propulsion Technologies	02/2021 - 12/2023	Business Finland, Companies
LEAP-RE - Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy	10/2020 - 12/2025	EU - Horizon
Energy for IoT and other electrical devices (E4IoT)	09/2020 - 08/2022	EU - European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020, The Regional Council of Ostrobothnia

Julkaisut

Uudet julkaisut 2024-: Applicability of Hydrogen Fuel for a Cruise Ship
DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol7010006
Mäkelä, Maarit; Niemi, Seppo; Nuortila, Carolin; Nyystilä, Lauri
Clean technologies
2025
Clean Propulsion Technologies: Securing Technological Dominance for the Finnish Marine and Off-Road Powertrain Sectors
DOI: 10.3390/en18051240
Mikulski, Maciej; Ovaska, Teemu; Rabetino, Rodrigo; Kangasjärvi, Merja; Myllykangas, Aino
Energies
2025
New Chemical Kinetics Mechanism for Simulation of Natural Gas/Hydrogen/Diesel multi-fuel combustion in Engines
DOI: 10.3384/ecp212.048
Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Andwari, Amin Mahmoudzadeh; Kakoee, Alireza; Golbaghi, Kian; Hyvönen, Jari; Gharehghani, Ayat; Mikulsky, Maciej; Lendormy, Eric
Linköping electronic conference proceedings
2025
Novel chemical kinetic mechanism for CFD simulation of hydrogen-enriched natural gas/diesel RCCI combustion
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.01.451
Fakhari, Amir Hossein; Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Gharehghani, Ayat; Hunicz, Jacek; Mikulski, Maciej; Andwari, Amin Mahmoudzadeh
International journal of hydrogen energy
2025
State of Charge Estimation for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Hybrid Vessels Using Kalman Filters
DOI: 10.1109/mepcon63025.2024.10850412
Elsanhoury, Mahmoud; Koljonen, Janne; Elmusrati, Mohammed; Niemi, Seppo
2025
Advancing autonomy of chemical kinetics based multizone models for reactivity controlled compression ignition engines
DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118562
Vasudev, Aneesh; Kakoee, Alireza; Axelsson, Martin; Maleki Almani, Hamidreza; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
Energy conversion and management
2024
Advancing Sustainable Maritime with AI/ML Enhanced Hardware-in-the-Loop Testing
DOI: 10.1109/aie61866.2024.10561409
Koljonen, Janne; Elsanhoury, Mahmoud; Elmusrati, Mohammed; Niemi, Seppo
2024
Comparative analysis of waste-derived pyrolytic fuels applied in a contemporary compression ignition engine
DOI: 10.19206/ce-186697
Rybak, Arkadiusz; Hunicz, Jacek; Szpica, Dariusz; Mikulski, Maciej; Gęca, Michał; Woś, Paweł
Combustion engines
2024
Comparison of diesel and hydrotreated vegetable oil as the high-reactivity fuel in reactivity-controlled compression ignition
DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2024.119264
Hunicz, Jacek; Yang, Liping; Rybak, Arkadiusz; Ji, Shuaizhuang; Gęca, Michał S.; Mikulski, Maciej
Energy conversion and management
2024
Compatibility of Methanol-Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil Blends with Chosen Steels and Aluminum
DOI: 10.3390/en17143423
Wang-Alho, Huaying; Sirviö, Katriina; Nuortila, Carolin; Kaivosoja, Jonna; Mikulski, Maciej; Niemi, Seppo
Energies
2024
Effect of late diesel injection on close-coupled SCR + ASC during DPF regeneration period
DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2024.133406
Ovaska, Teemu; Spoof-Tuomi, Kirsi; Niemi, Seppo; Valkjärvi, Pauli; Maunula, Teuvo; Mikulski, Maciej; Lehtoranta, Kati; Alanen, Jenni; Happonen, Matti
Fuel
2024
Effects of Fuel Hydrochloric Acid Contamination on Selected Metals
DOI: 10.3390/jmse12050776
Kaivosoja, Jonna; Sirviö, Katriina; Nuortila, Carolin; Niemi, Seppo
Journal of marine science and engineering
2024
Enhancing voltage stability of grid forming power converters based on model predictive controller
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijepes.2024.110317
Ullah, Qudrat; Resende, Enio Costa; Freitas, Luiz Carlos Gomes; Laaksonen, Hannu; Godoy Simões, Marcelo
International journal of electrical power and energy systems
2024
Experimental investigation on flue gas condensation heat recovery system integrated with heat pump and spray heat exchanger
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102454
Zhang, Qunli; Liu, Tao; Cheng, Xuanrui; Guo, Shuaifei; Zhang, Lin; Lü, Xiaoshu
Thermal science and engineering progress
2024
FTIR Analysis for Determining Stability of Methanol–HVO Blends for Non-Road Engine Application
DOI: 10.3390/en17163921
Balogun, F.; Wang-Alho, H.; Sirviö, K.; Mikulski, M.
Energies
2024
Integrated 1D Simulation of Aftertreatment System and Chemistry-Based Multizone RCCI Combustion for Optimal Performance with Methane Oxidation Catalyst
DOI: 10.3390/jmse12040594
Kakoee, Alireza; Hunicz, Jacek; Mikulski, Maciej
Journal of marine science and engineering
2024
Investigating HCCI Engine Operating Parameters Under the Simultaneous Dual Fueling of Ammonia and Hydrogen Based on Detailed Chemical Kinetics Modelling
Balogun, F.; Vasudev, A.; Kakoee, A.; Sirviö, K.; Mikulski, M.
2024
Low Temperature Combustion Modeling and Predictive Control of Marine Engines
DOI: 10.3390/app14052033
Modabberian, Amin; Storm, Xiaoguo; Shamekhi, Amir-Mohammad; Vasudev, Aneesh; Zenger, Kai; Hyvönen, Jari; Mikulski, Maciej
Applied sciences
2024
Novel Chemical Kinetics Mechanism for Robust Simulation of Multi-Component Fuel Blends in Engine Conditions
DOI: 10.4271/2024-24-0035
Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Mahmoudzadeh Andwari, Amin; Kakoee, Alireza; Hyvonen, Jari; Gharehghani, Ayat; Mikulski, Maciej; Lendormy, Éric
Sae technical papers
2024
Properties of Chemically Stabilized Methanol–HVO Blends
DOI: 10.3390/en17153724
Wang-Alho, Huaying; Sirviö, Katriina; Balogun, Fatimoh; Kaivosoja, Jonna; Nuortila, Carolin; Mikulski, Maciej; Niemi, Seppo
Energies
2024
SCR+ASC Performance During a Period of Late Diesel Injection for DPF Regeneration
DOI: 10.1115/ICEF2024-140557
Ovaska, Teemu; Spoof-Tuomi, Kirsi; Niemi, Seppo; Valkjärvi, Pauli; Mikulski, Maciej; Lehtoranta, Kati; Alanen, Jenni; Happonen, Matti; Maunula, Teuvo
2024
Start of Injection Influence on In-Cylinder Fuel Distribution, Engine Performance and Emission Characteristic in a RCCI Marine Engine
DOI: 10.3390/en17102370
Kakoee, Alireza; Mikulski, Maciej; Vasudev, Aneesh; Axelsson, Martin; Hyvönen, Jari; Salahi, Mohammad Mahdi; Mahmoudzadeh Andwari, Amin
Energies
2024
TMM-based study on sound insulation characteristics of laminated cylindrical shell lined with porous materials
DOI: 10.1007/s00419-024-02539-z
Li, Bin; Wang, Ning; Yan, Wenjie; Tian, Ying; Zheng, Zengquan; Kuang, Wenjian
Archive of applied mechanics
2024
Variable valve actuation for efficient exhaust thermal management in an off-road diesel engine
DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2024.122940
Kim, Jeyoung; Vallinmaki, Marko; Tuominen, Tino; Mikulski, Maciej
Applied thermal engineering
2024
Waste plastic pyrolysis oils as diesel fuel blending components: Detailed analysis of combustion and emissions sensitivity to engine control parameters
DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134093
Hunicz, Jacek; Rybak, Arkadiusz; Szpica, Dariusz; Gęca, Michał S.; Woś, Paweł; Yang, Liping; Mikulski, Maciej
Energy
2024
(Lista päivitetty 20.5.2025)

Contact information

Group leader

Maciej Mikulski

Professor

School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology

firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi

+358294498591

Fabriikki F384

Mission

Vision

EPS bridges fundamental research and industry application

EPS Research group in a nutshell

Fuel research

Simulation and modelling

Control

Experimental research

Project management

Join our research community: doctoral programme

EPS news and events

EnergyWeek 2025 brought together researchers, policymakers and industry leaders in Vaasa – discussions highlighted innovative energy solutions, and collaboration between universities and companies

Research and Competence Center for Engine Technology in Vaasa

University of Vaasa awarded its best research and teaching acts

Projects

Julkaisut

Contact information

Maciej Mikulski

Other research group members

Fatimoh Balogun

Iman Chitsaz

Mona Enell-Nilsson

Kian Golbaghi

Jonne Haapakoski

Touraj Hashempour

Sonja Heikkilä

Michaela Hissa

Kimmo Höglund

Danish Idrees

Arttu Kainulainen

Jonna Kaivosoja

Alireza Kakoee

Merja Kangasjärvi

Antti Kiikeri

Jeyoung Kim

Jaber McBreen

Jari Mäki

Jan Nemec

Olav Nilsson

Carolin Nuortila

Lauri Nyystilä

Teemu Ovaska

Seyfi Polat

Amir-Mohammad Shamekhi

Katriina Sirviö

Amir Soleimani

Xiaoguo Storm

Amir Talebi Sheikhsarmast

Aleksi Träskbäck

Pauli Valkjärvi

Aneesh Vasudev

Huaying Wang-Alho

Jaber McBreen

Jari Mäki

Jan Nemec

Olav Nilsson

Amir-Mohammad Shamekhi

Katriina Sirviö

Amir Soleimani

Aleksi Träskbäck

Pauli Valkjärvi

Aneesh Vasudev

Huaying Wang-Alho

Giacomo Belgiorno

Cataldo De Blasio

Jari Hyvönen

Kati Lehtoranta

Amin Mahmoudzadeh Andwari