People / Olaf Borsboom
PhD researcher
Olaf Borsboom
Phd | Multi-fidelity modelling methods for electric vehicle powertrain systems
- Institution
- Eindhoven University of Technology
- Work package
- In NEON
- 2020-2025
- PhD
- defended, 12 June 2025
- Thesis
- Optimization Models and Algorithms for Design and Operation of Electrified Vehicles
PhD candidate in WP4 (Electric cars and trucks) on multi-fidelity modelling of electric vehicle powertrain components; defended his thesis on 12 June 2025 (first promotor Mauro Salazar, second promotor Theo Hofman).
Olaf Borsboom studied Automotive Technology at Eindhoven University of Technology and did his PhD in the Control Systems Technology section of its Mechanical Engineering department. His research developed fast but accurate models of electric motors, transmissions and batteries and used them to optimize the design and control of electric and hybrid vehicle powertrains.
About me
I have been a professional athlete for several years, which has taught me to persist, be precise and completely go for it when I am trying new things. If I do something, I want to do it right and preferably, be the best. I am willing to take the time to invest in myself, be curious and go into depth to fully understand things.

Personal Motivation
Besides learning new skills and developing myself as a researcher, scientist and engineer during a PhD, I love the idea of contributing something to the world, its population and future generations. Moreover, I love the holistic, multi-disciplinary approach of the NEON research project, because I truly believe that this is the only way that this huge problem is ever going to be solved. It is the only way that any scientist or other human being is ever going to achieve anything and make a difference. We must tackle this problem from all sides!
Multi-fidelity modelling methods for electric vehicle powertrain systems
During my research in NEON, I will be focusing on creating accurate but computationally fast models of components in electric vehicles, such as electric motors, batteries, and gearbox transmissions. In this way, we can optimize the design and control of each vehicle and its components for each application.

Link to other neon research
I will be working together with TNO and Lightyear, to receive information from the real world, and apply my work directly as well, making this loop as small as possible. I am also very interested in how a fleet of electric vehicles will interact with the energy grid.
Profile text from the former NEON website.
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Publications and talks
- Optimization Models and Algorithms for Design and Operation of Electrified Vehicles (phd-thesis, 2025)
- Design Optimization of Electric Vehicle Drivetrains Using Surrogate Modeling Frameworks (journal-article, 2025)
- Joint Fuel-Optimal Control of the Velocity and Power-Split of Hybrid Electric Vehicles (journal-article, 2024)
- A Geometric Electric Motor Model for Optimal Vehicle Family Design (conference-paper, 2024)
- Automated Design Optimization of Axial and Radial Flux Motors for E-powertrains (conference-paper, 2024)
- Effective Scaling of High-Fidelity Electric Motor Models for Electric Powertrain Design Optimization (conference-paper, 2024)
- Geometric Scaling Laws for Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Motors in In-Wheel Powertrain Topologies (conference-paper, 2024)
- Electric Mobility Design: From Powertrain Components to Vehicle Fleet Optimization (conference-paper, 2023)
- Transmission Design and Control Optimization of an Electric Vehicle Using Analytical Modeling Methods (conference-paper, 2023)
- Electric Motor Design Optimization: A Convex Surrogate Modeling Approach (conference-paper, 2022)
- A Convex Optimization Framework for Minimum Lap Time Design and Control of Electric Race Cars (journal-article, 2021)
- Optimal Design of Electric Micromobility Vehicles (conference-paper, 2021)
- Time-optimal Control of Electric Race Cars under Thermal Constraints (conference-paper, 2021)
- Time-optimal Control Strategies for Electric Race Cars with Different Transmission Technologies (conference-paper, 2020)
- PhD defence: Optimization Models and Algorithms for Design and Operation of Electrified Vehicles (phd-defence, 2025-06-12)