■4th lecture - 31.3.2026

The key role of onboard chargers in modern electric vehicles – a world invisible from the outside

Ing. Petr Zlatník, Ph.D. and Ing. Karel Matouš, Ph.D.  
ŠKODA AUTO a.s.

The lecture will provide a comprehensive technical overview of the technologies and processes involved in charging modern electric vehicles (EVs), with a particular focus on the design and operation of integrated onboard chargers.   The introductory section will present the architecture of various types of electric vehicles—from plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The main section focuses on the role of the onboard AC charger, which converts alternating current from the grid into direct current for charging the traction battery. It is also emphasized that although fast DC charging stations exist, most (70–90%) charging typically takes place via the AC grid at home or at work—which is gentler on the battery and more economical for the user. Significant attention is devoted to the technical challenges of developing, testing, and certifying charging systems, such as: 

• electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, 

• crash test performance of power electronics and batteries, 

• charging behavior under extreme climatic conditions, 

• safety mechanisms for high-voltage systems, including millisecond disconnection following an impact. 

The lecture is intended for students and technicians who want to take a look behind the scenes at the hardware and software of electric vehicles—that is, at aspects that remain hidden from the average user when simply plugging in a cable.

Date: 31.3.2026, 17:00, room SD 2.94, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno

Introduction of the speakers:

Ing. Petr Zlatník, Ph.D.  

he graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague, specializing in digital signal processing. During his doctoral studies, he focused on speech recognition and digital speech signal processing, which he subsequently applied at Škoda Auto—for example, in supporting the development of Czech voice control for the Columbus infotainment system across the Volkswagen Group’s brands. The company has been involved in the development and integration of charging systems into PHEVs and BEVs since these vehicles were first introduced into the brand’s portfolio and has extensive practical experience in this field.

Ing. Karel Matouš, Ph.D.  

he graduated from the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, and during his doctoral studies at the University of West Bohemia, he focused on the use of statistical methods for analyzing images of plant fluorescence emissions. He subsequently worked at Škoda Auto, where he developed hardware and software tools for testing vehicle electronics, including camera and robotic systems for HiL testing. He currently heads the high-voltage charging systems development department at Škoda Auto a.s.

■2nd lecture - 3.3.2026

Communication interfaces in automotive

Ing. Viktor Obr  
NXP

The presentation focuses on the history, development, and trends in automotive communication. It concentrates on traditional internal communication buses (CAN, LIN, and FlexRay), but also provides a brief overview of other methods of communication within the vehicle (Automotive Ethernet) and between the vehicle and other traffic participants and infrastructure (V2X). It also addresses the transition from historical point-to-point architecture through domain architecture to zonal architecture, hardware security features within these architectures, and software standardization (AUTOSAR).  

Date: 3.3.2026, 17:00, room SD 2.94, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno

Introduction of the speaker:

Ing. Viktor Obr  

is an embedded software engineer with many years of experience at NXP/Freescale and a graduate of FEKT VUT in Brno. He specializes in the development of low-level drivers and reference applications for Advanced Analog components for automotive communication, power management, and switching LEDs and electric motors.

■1st lecture - 24.2.2026

Automotive Ethernet Story

Ing. Martin Gazda  
NXP

The lecture will present the transformation of the automotive industry towards Software-Defined Vehicles, where software is the main driver of innovation and modern cars are becoming complex computing systems. We will show why Automotive Ethernet is a key technology of the new generation – from simplified cabling and zone architectures to deterministic communication using AVB/TSN standards. We will explain the principles of time synchronization (gPTP/PTP), multimedia and mission-critical data transmission control, and the demands that autonomous functions, connectivity, and security place on a vehicle's network infrastructure. The presentation will also include a look at NXP's practical experience: specific use cases, architectures, and technologies that enable performance scaling, ensure reliability, and prepare vehicles for future functions in the form of OTA updates.  

Date: 24.2.2026, 17:00, room SD 2.94, Technická 12, 616 00 Brno

Introduction of the speaker:

Ing. Martin Gazda  

is an embedded software engineer specializing in Automotive Ethernet, AVB/TSN, and time synchronization in automotive systems. He has many years of experience at NXP/Freescale and Honeywell, where he develops network drivers, firmware, and protocols for automotive microcontrollers. He is actively involved in customer projects, standardization, and the development of production solutions for car manufacturers. He regularly lectures at BUT FEEC on Automotive Ethernet and modern in-vehicle communication technologies.

Winter semester 2025/26

Unfortunately, due to time constraints on the part of the organizers, it was not possible to prepare the program for winter semester.

Back to main page of project

Colloquium programme from 2024/25

Colloquium programme from 2023/24

Colloquium programme from 2022/23 (in Czech language only)