Ampere and Centrale Nantes extend their technological partnership with the launch of the third phase of their joint research chair

Launched in 2016 with Renault Group, this strategic partnership has pushed the boundaries of electric mobility by improving the performance of electric vehicles while reducing their costs, making this technology more accessible without compromising on safety, reliability, and customer experience.

The first two phases of the chair have already led to major scientific advances:

• 22 patents filed
• 19 scientific publications in international journals
• 26 presentations at international conferences

The work carried out has led to the development and validation of numerous control and optimization algorithms, several of which are already integrated into Renault vehicles currently in production. These tangible results highlight how academic research can directly impact industrial competitiveness.

This partnership with Ampère perfectly illustrates our commitment to leveraging research to boost industrial competitiveness and energy transition.- Jean-Baptiste Avrillier, Director of Centrale Nantes

A third phase focusing on propulsion systems, energy management, and diagnostics for electric vehicles

The third phase of the chair (2025–2029), led by the LS2N laboratory, will focus on three strategic areas of research:

• Improving the range, efficiency, and driving comfort of electric vehicles through control and observation functions integrated from the design stage.
• Making the vehicle a key player in the electrical grid (Vehicle-to-Grid, Vehicle-to-Home, etc.) through AI-based optimization and control algorithms
• Extending the service life of critical vehicle components through diagnostics, prognostics, and predictive optimization.

"With phase three of our joint research chair with Ampère, we are entering an even more integrated approach, where control, energy management, and diagnostics are considered as a whole" - Malek Ghanes, Professor at Centrale Nantes, and the chairholder.

Unique technology platforms

The research is supported by several test benches and state-of-the-art infrastructure, including:

• A 160 kW motor test bench—the only one of its kind in France in the academic world, enabling the validation of controls and observers in real conditions
• A multi-energy hydrogen platform, developed as part of the regional CPER program, to develop hydrogen-based energy management architecture.
• A 3 kW test bench for simulating a series hybrid architecture in which the electric motor alone provides traction for the vehicle, while the combustion engine recharges the battery via a generator.
• Bidirectional charging benches for testing Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) strategies in semi-real environments

To mark the renewal of the chair, Centrale Nantes and Ampère organized a scientific conference on 13 November 2025, to discuss the scientific advances already achieved and the next steps in close collaboration between academic research and industrial expertise.
 

Download the press release (in French)