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An expert system capable of learning from the electric car operation is used to evaluate the drive train performance and energy management and furthermore, monitor faults. This system using the computational power of modern portable personal computers, user-friendly data input and output, and full-screen editor capabilities is used for on-board drive train monitoring, energy management optimization, and fault diagnosis.

Design of electric cars faces a significant growth all over the world. Powered by rechargeable batteries these vehicles can contribute significantly to the reduction of the big cities' pollution. The shape of a vehicle in our times is of major importance for the market and it represents the car's philosophy and character. Styling requires the definition of the general dimensions and layout of the car in advance. Computer aided techniques were developed to support a systematic design process of E-240, a 2400 mm long electric mini-car, developed at the University of Patras.

The increasing environmental pollution, the noise emissions, the deteriorating traffic conditions in the big cities, and the decreasing oil deposits have forced the car industries to search for alternative energy sources and new concepts. Increasing R&D efforts in the field of the electric vehicle, which seems to become a substantial part of the fleet of automobiles in the years to come, request for automated and simplified design and simulation techniques. The design of the chassis of E-240, a two-seated electric compact city car, developed at the University of Patras with the use of computer aided software tools, is presented here.