Free online courseIntroduction to Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Course Description

Electric and hybrid vehicles are changing how the automotive world is designed, repaired, and managed—and the shift is creating real opportunities for technicians, engineers, service advisors, and anyone looking to future-proof their career. This free online course helps you make sense of electrified mobility from the ground up, so you can speak the language of EVs with confidence and understand how the systems actually work in real vehicles.

You will move from the big picture of why electrification returned so strongly to the practical engineering ideas that determine vehicle performance. The course connects environmental and economic motivations with the physics of vehicle dynamics, then bridges that foundation into the key differences between internal combustion drivetrains and electric propulsion. Instead of treating EVs like a black box, you will learn how energy flows from source to wheels, what limits efficiency, and why different architectures exist for hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

As you progress, you will build a clear understanding of the components that define modern electrified drivetrains: power electronics converters, control units, battery technologies, and battery management systems. You will also explore why supporting technologies such as ultracapacitors matter, how fuel cells generate electricity, and what makes motor choices and motor control strategies so important for drivability and efficiency. Along the way, practice questions help reinforce concepts so you can check your understanding and improve retention.

The learning extends beyond the vehicle itself into the charging ecosystem. You will gain perspective on charging types, architectures, grid interaction, vehicle-to-grid ideas, and why power factor correction and bidirectional conversion are critical in charger design. The course also highlights real operational concerns, including renewable energy integration and the essentials of thermal management for batteries, motors, and power converters—topics that directly influence safety, performance, longevity, and service decisions.

Finally, you will examine standards, safety, recycling, and the business and policy realities shaping the EV industry, so your technical knowledge connects to what is happening in the market. By the end, you will have a stronger, more practical foundation in electrified vehicles that supports automotive repair and professional growth in a rapidly evolving field.