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Automotive & Sustainable Mobility

OVERVIEW

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Università di Brescia

The Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering of the University of Brescia carries out advanced research, innovation and knowledge-transfer activities in the automotive and sustainable mobility domains. The department operates at the interface between vehicle engineering, manufacturing technologies, materials, energy systems, environmental, economic, health and social assessment, with a strong focus on the challenges posed by the green and digital transition of the automotive sector.

DIMI is embedded in one of the most important manufacturing districts in Italy, Brescia Province, characterised by a dense network of automotive and mechanical SMEs, many of which are still strongly oriented towards internal combustion engine technologies. This context represents a unique living laboratory for studying and supporting the transition of the automotive value chain, combining technological development with analysis of industrial, environmental and societal impacts.

DIMI research activities contribute to national and European initiatives (including MOST – National Centre for Sustainable Mobility) and support evidence-based decision-making for industry and policymakers.

RESEARCH TOPICS

The automotive and mobility research at Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering is organised around the following Topics.
Each area integrates experimental, numerical and system-level approaches and is open to collaboration with industrial and institutional partners.

Research focuses on modelling, simulation, and experimental validation of vehicle systems for safety, performance, and comfort.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsAcademic ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications 
Disegno e progettazione di autoveicoliVehicle dynamics, subsystem models, trackside engineering, HMI, and innovative powertrains.Lombardy Mobility Cluster; significant dynamics & motorsport companies.UniPD, UniNA, PoliTO, PoliMI. VI-grade professional driving simulator; Correvit sensor; Marelli/MOTEC units. 
BSpoke Automotive SrlSoftware for chassis design (K&C), virtual vehicle development, and E-sports training.Various automotive and motorsport companies.  Driving simulator services. 
Meccanica Applicata alle MacchineMethodologies for the design, production, and use of automotive components.ANFIA (Associazione Nazionale Filiera Industria Automobilistica). Improvement of automotive processes (ANFIA, 2018-ongoing).  

Addresses virtual development and validation using digital twins and human-in-the-loop approaches.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsAcademic ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications
Disegno e progettazione di autoveicoliDriver-in-the-Loop validation and system-level assessment.Lombardy Mobility Cluster.UniPD, UniNA, PoliTO, PoliMI. VI-grade professional driving simulator. 
ERGOMulti-physics modelling for electrification of off-highway machinery and vocational trucks.SDF Group, OMB-BUSI GroupOhio State University (USA), Tampere University (Finland), UniCusano, UniBOAVRC (ERDF ROP), 2025-2027)..

Ferrari, M., et al. (2025), https://doi.org/10.3390/act14110553

 

Beltrami, D., et al. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52075-4_56

 

Uberti, S., et al. (2020), https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-24-0018

Technox srlDesign, development, control and testing of electro-mechanical subsystems, transmissions, and automation systems. Primary and secondary ECUs programming.

SDF Group,

TAFE,

Brist Axle Systems, Cappellotto, Nuvera Hyster-Yale, OMB Saleri, Iveco Group, DANA Off-Highway, OMSI-Trasmissioni, TESMEC

    


 

Supports the transition towards lighter, more durable, and sustainable vehicle components.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsAcademic ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications 
Scienza e Tecnologia dei MaterialiStructural integrity of architected cellular polymers and reinforced polymers.Lombardy Mobility Cluster; Radici Novacips SpA.STIIMA-CNR, PoliMI, CSMT.MOST Spoke11 National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023 

Agnelli, J., et al. (2024), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmat.2023.104882

 

Agnelli, J., et al. (2025), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2025.111011

MetallurgiaOptimization of recycled aluminium alloys and process parameters.Stellantis, Ferrari, Leonardo, Fondital, Ghial, Cromodora Wheels, Streparava, OMR.Jönköping University (Sweden), UniFE, La Sapienza, UniBO.MOST Spoke11 National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023; NAARA (MASE); POC ALCOM (NextGeneration EU), POC Smart Lattice (NextGeneration EU), SG FLIGHT (NextGeneration EU). Contracts with Streparava and Fonderie di Torbole. 

Di Egidio et al. (2026),  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40964-025-01490-x.

 

E. Mingotti et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2025.185446

TecMecSimulation/application of lightweight solutions and new fuels.Stellantis.Politecnico di Bari.Project PROHYDRO (NextGenerationEU); MOST Spoke11 National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023LPA.Ginestra, P. et al. (2025). https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903599-131


 

This theme addresses production technologies and systems relevant to automotive competitiveness and supply-chain resilience.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsAcademic ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications 
TecMecMachining simulation, optimization, and quality management.Local and national industrial collaborations.Italian and international research groups.National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023 (MOST).Mechanical Engineering Workshop; Rapid Prototyping Laboratory. 
Meccanica Applicata alle MacchineMethodologies for design, production, and quality improvement.ANFIA. Automotive process improvement - ANFIA (2018-ongoing).  


 

Focuses on vehicle electrification and the interaction with energy systems.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsAcademic ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications 
m4lab - Scienza delle costruzioniMultiscale/multiphysics modeling of Lithium and Sodium-ion batteries.BMW Group, Dassault Systèmes, RSE, Eldor Corporation ; Lombardy Mobility ClusterCambridge (UK), Uppsala University, Notre Dame (USA).TIMECLiP2 (BMW); SOLEIL Project; HPC-Europa3; LiBX.Deal-ii 3D cell simulator; 128 cores cluster nodes.

Serpelloni, M., et al. (2026), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euromechsol.2025.105988

Yeghishyan, A., et al. (2025), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.166888 

Laboratorio di Chimica per le TecnologieRecovery of Critical Raw Materials from batteries using microwave processes (MACR).LE2C.Universities of Nottingham, Porto, Milan Bicocca; Swerim (Sweden).CARAMEL (MUR-FISA, starting Jan 2025). 

Cornelio, A., et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1039/D5GC02583D 

 

Bresolin, B.-M., et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.131918 

ERGOEnergy assessment and optimization for mobile machinery.SDF Group, OMB-Busi GroupOhio State University (USA), Tampere University (Finland)AVRC (ERDF ROP), 2025-2027). 

Moratti, G., et al. (2025), https://doi.org/10.4271/2024-24-0004

Ferrari, M., et al. (2024), https://doi.org/10.3390/act13050191


 

Addresses the broader implications of automotive and mobility transitions.

Research Group / WebsiteDescription of Research ActivityIndustrial ContactsProjects & ContractsAssets / InfrastructuresSelected Publications 
Integrated Assessment Modeling & ControlModeling assessment of automotive solutions on air quality, GHG, and health.Lombardy Energy Cleantech Cluster (LE2C).ELISAH (EU4Health); BIOMASS Hub (ERDF ROP), MOST Spoke11 National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023 

Sandrini, G., et al. (2025) Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2025.138938

 

De Angelis, E., et al. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1109/TASE.2021.3073241

 

Cecchel, S., et al. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.081

Chemistry for technologies LabSustainability assessment of recycling processes and carbon footprint alignment. Optimized recycling targets aligned with EU Batteries Regulation. 

Cornelio, A., et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.130433 

 

Zanoletti, A., et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.124973 

MetallurgiaOptimizing structural casting production for carbon footprint reductionRaffmetalMOST Spoke11 National Sustainable Mobility Center CN00000023 R. Arcaleni et al. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susmat.2025.e01491


 

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