Electromobility is becoming increasingly important on the path toward climate-friendly mobility. For electric cars to perform even better in everyday use, they must be not only low-emission but also efficient and comfortable—especially under extreme weather conditions. This is precisely where a large-scale European research project comes in; ThIMo is participating in it alongside eleven other partners from academia and industry.
One of the key challenges facing today’s battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is efficient thermal management. Heating in winter or cooling in summer, in particular, consumes a significant amount of battery energy and can substantially reduce driving range. As part of the AETHER project ("Advanced Thermal Comfort and Energy Management for Personalized, Efficient and Weather-Aware Electric Vehicle Operation"), twelve European partners are developing solutions to manage these energy flows more intelligently and economically while ensuring a pleasant interior climate. The research focuses on light vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes—known as Light Duty Vehicles (LDVs)—as well as Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs).
Leveraging its core expertise in automotive engineering, ThIMo coordinates the project and serves as its central testing and development hub, utilizing specialized infrastructure. Its high-performance four-wheel chassis dynamometer housed in a climate chamber (MASTER)—combined with the "Virtual Road" simulation and testing facility (VISTA)—enables realistic testing of electric vehicle operation under extreme temperature and weather conditions, supported by wireless vehicle and smart-city communication. The project’s technical work is driven by the "Smart Vehicle Systems" research group led by Dr. Valentin Ivanov—an internationally recognized expert in smart vehicle systems and electromobility—and by the High-Frequency and Microwave Technology (HMT) department, which contributes expertise specifically regarding smart-city communication and electromagnetic field exposure. Also participating is TITK e.V. in Rudolstadt, an affiliated institute of TU Ilmenau and a key strategic partner of ThIMo. The goal is to develop complex mobility solutions and accelerate the practical implementation of innovations, drawing on a broad European network of partners from academia and industry.
In the new project, the researchers are first investigating what drivers actually find comfortable. They are identifying user needs through driving simulators, realistic driving tests, and large-scale surveys. Based on this, the aim is to develop personalized, AI-driven climate control systems—intelligent controls that use artificial intelligence to automatically determine the ideal temperature inside the vehicle and optimize energy consumption accordingly.
In this process, artificial intelligence handles a form of energy management within the vehicle: it distributes available energy among driving operations, the battery, and interior climate control in a way that minimizes the loss of driving range. Additionally, external information—such as weather data or digital services from "smart cities" (cities that digitally interconnect traffic and energy systems)—can be incorporated.
In addition to control software, the project partners are developing sustainable, cost-effective materials, systems, and components that enhance the overall system's efficiency. These include phase-change materials (PCMs)—special substances capable of storing and releasing heat to act as a thermal "buffer" and stabilize interior temperatures—as well as oil-free centrifugal compressors for the air conditioning system that operate more efficiently than conventional systems. Also included are modern power electronics components based on wide-bandgap semiconductors—highly efficient electronic materials that minimize energy loss as heat—and additively manufactured heat exchangers produced via 3D printing, which transfer heat with exceptional effectiveness. Noise and vibration factors are also being addressed to further improve ride comfort.
The solutions developed are subsequently tested in virtual simulations, combined test environments, and real vehicle demonstrators. Assessments include the extent of achievable energy savings, improvements in comfort, and the reliability of the systems under extreme temperatures.
"The goal is to further develop electric vehicles so that they can be used efficiently, comfortably, and reliably in any everyday situation. To this end, the AETHER project combines basic research with industrial application to make electromobility more sustainable, intelligent, and suitable for everyday use—thereby actively supporting the transition to climate-friendly mobility," says Dr. Valentin Ivanov.
The three-year project launches on June 1, 2026, and is funded by the European Union with a total of €6,000,000, of which more than €650,000 is allocated to TU Ilmenau. In addition to TU Ilmenau and TITK, the project consortium includes Armengaud Innovate GmbH (Austria), AVL Deutschland GmbH, Bluways International (Belgium), Dumarey Automotive Italia, Garrett Motion (Czech Republic), Politecnico di Torino (Italy), SODA Auto (UK), Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), Ghent University (Belgium), and Alpha Engineering (Lithuania).
You can find further updates on the AETHER project
