Researchers under the four-year EU-funded Laser4NetZero project are developing laser technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) systems to reduce emissions, material waste and production costs in electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, Ghana Business News reported.
The initiative focuses on improving the production of EV batteries and fuel cells through laser-based cutting and welding, process simulation and AI-driven quality control. It aims to address manufacturing inefficiencies such as high energy consumption, poor material utilisation and defective components.
Professor Alessandro Fortunato of the University of Bologna, the project coordinator, said around 30% of EV-related emissions could be linked to manufacturing processes, making improvements in production efficiency important for greener mobility.
Researchers are examining the use of lasers to replace industrial ovens in the energy-intensive electrode-drying stage of battery production. The project is also exploring AI-based systems to monitor welding operations in real time, identify defects and enable timely adjustments.
The consortium includes six academic institutions and eight industrial partners across Europe and Africa, including the universities of Bologna and Warwick, Luleå University of Technology, Botswana International University of Science and Technology and Pentecost University.
With an EU contribution of approximately €2.6 million, the project runs from January 2024 to December 2027. It is expected to validate its research through demonstrators for fuel-cell components and battery systems.
The project is also examining battery and fuel-cell sustainability across their lifecycles, including the recovery of valuable raw materials and the reuse of batteries after they are no longer suitable for vehicle applications.
Pentecost University Vice-Chancellor Reverend Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua said the collaboration would expose students to emerging technologies and strengthen their practical engineering skills. The university is also developing an engineering village, supported by the Facility Investing for Employment, KfW Development Bank and The Church of Pentecost, which is expected to be completed by July 2027.
The initiative aims to strengthen research collaboration and knowledge transfer while preparing engineers in Ghana and other participating countries for developments in advanced manufacturing.
