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About the project

EVEREST

EVEREST is a European research project that develops innovative, cost-effective thermal and energy management solutions for battery-electric light duty and light commercial vehicles (LDVs and LCVs).

The project focuses on a major barrier to EV adoption, the significant loss of driving range caused by cabin heating and cooling under extreme weather conditions.

By combining advanced thermal technologies, AI-based predictive control and user-centred design, EVEREST aims to reduce climate-related range loss by at least 30% and cut overall energy demand by 10%, without the need for oversized batteries  making zero-emission mobility more efficient, affordable, and reliable across all climates.

Our Vision

To support Europe’s transition toward zero-emission mobility by making battery-electric vehicles reliable and efficient in every climate.EVEREST contributes to the decarbonisation of road transport by removing one of the key barriers to EV adoption, range loss caused by cabin climatisation.

Our Mission
  1. 1Innovation: to design and demonstrate integrated thermal and energy management solutions, combining advanced HVAC technologies with AI-driven predictive control, to set new performance benchmarks for electric mobility.
  2. 2User-Centricity: to identify and validate real user needs, usage patterns, and thermal comfort thresholds, ensuring the developed solutions genuinely improve the driving experience.
  3. 3Sustainability: to reduce climate-related energy losses and avoid unnecessary battery up-sizing, supporting more resource-efficient, affordable, and competitive zero-emission vehicles.
Steps

How It Works

Understanding user needs and defining the baseline

Analyze real-world driving habits and thermal comfort thresholds through surveys and simulator studies, measuring how electric vehicles currently perform in hot and cold conditions.

Designing and prototyping new technologies

Design of thermal components ranging from CO₂ air conditioning and infrared heating to smart insulation.

Testing and integration into demonstrator vehicles

Each component is first validated on a dedicated test bench, then integrated; alongside an AI-based predictive control system into actual electric demonstrator vehicles both light-duty and commercial.

Validation under real-world conditions

The completed demonstrator vehicles undergo real-world driving tests to confirm a 30% reduction in climate-related range loss and a 10% reduction in energy demand.

EVEREST PROJECT

WP DESCRIPTION

The EVEREST project is organized into 12 work packages that guide the electric vehicle from the understanding of user needs to the on-road validation of new climate control technologies.

WP01
User Requirements e usage acceptance limits
Investigates how passengers actually perceive thermal comfort on board an electric vehicle,combining usage patterns, habits, and the thermal comfort thresholds people are willing to accept.

User Requirements e usage acceptance limits

WP02
Baseline Vehicle Testing
WP2 establishes the performance baseline for the three demonstrator vehicles by identifying key parameters related to heating, cooling, and cabin comfort, equipping the vehicles with the necessary sensors, and defining standardized test protocols based on the WLTC cycle.

Baseline Vehicle Testing

WP03
Baseline Vehicle Simulation Models
Once the real-world data has been collected, WP3 transforms it into digital twins: high-fidelity models of the powertrain, HVAC system, cabin, and thermal comfort of the reference vehicles.

Baseline Vehicle Simulation Models

WP04
Design & Prototyping of HVAC Technologies
WP4 designs and builds prototypes of new HVAC components, including a CO2 and hydrocarbon air conditioning system, a regenerable thermal storage unit, an air-to-air heat recovery exchanger, radiant panels, and contact heating systems.

Design & Prototyping of HVAC Technologies

WP05
Component Testing & Mock-up Integration
WP5 experimentally evaluates the thermal, energy, and comfort performance of the components developed in WP4, using dedicated test rigs and a vehicle mock-up.

Component Testing & Mock-up Integration

WP06
Technology Demonstrator Simulation Models
WP6 updates and enhances simulation models to reflect the introduced innovations, developing intelligent and predictive control strategies aligned with smart city standards that are capable of leveraging weather data.

Technology Demonstrator Simulation Models

WP07
Integration into Vehicle Demonstrators
WP7 integrates the technologies developed in WP4 and tested in WP5 on three different demonstrator vehicles. Fiat 500e, Renault Megane E-Tech and IVECO eDaily.

Integration into Vehicle Demonstrators

WP08
Demonstrator Vehicle Testing
The demonstrator vehicles undergo testing; the trials evaluate the thermal comfort achieved, the energy savings realized by the HVAC system, and user acceptance under both extreme hot and cold weather conditions.

Demonstrator Vehicle Testing

WP09
Dissemination, communication, and exploitation
WP9 develops the project's dissemination and communication strategy targeting the scientific community and the general public, ranging from the website and social media channels to informational materials and partner interviews.

Dissemination, communication, and exploitation

WP10
Dissemination, communication, and exploitation
WP10 gives continuity to the work started in WP9, carrying forward in the second half of the project the scientific dissemination, the communication towards the non specialist public.

Dissemination, communication, and exploitation

WP11
Project management (P1)
WP11 ensures that EVEREST proceeds according to the planned schedule, quality standards, and objectives, handling contractual and financial management as well as management control.

Project management (P1)

WP12
Project management (P2)
WP12 continues the technical and administrative coordination work initiated in WP11, guiding the EVEREST project to completion with the same focus on timelines, quality, and proper resource management.

Project management (P2)

Discover our research and publications

HERE
CONSORTIUM

International Collaboration for EV efficiency

Behind EVEREST stands a team of 13 European partners  from vehicle manufacturers to research institutions working together to make electric mobility climate-resilient.

Our Consortium