Panel Discussions

Panel 1: Automotive Technology Roadmap
Monday, June 17, 2013
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Organizer: Dr. Ali Emadi, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain and Director of MacAUTO, McMaster University
Panelists:
Mengyang Zhang, Senior Technical Specialist, Chrysler Group LLC
Haoran Hu, Chief Scientist, Eaton Corporation
Bob Storc, Robert Storc Consulting LLC
Scott Heywood, Engineering Group Manager, Energy Balance and Strategy Group, GM
Mark Jennings, Technical Leader, Electrified Propulsion Systems Research & Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company
Panel Summary
:This panel discusses a technology roadmap (short term and long term) for the automotive industry by focusing on advanced vehicle technologies that are expected to be widely adopted by the industry in the coming decades. Panelists will present their own view of the current status and future trends and answer questions including: What are the major technical challenges facing the industry? How cost-effective are various advanced vehicle technologies including electrified powertrains, advanced engines, and lightweight materials? What are the advantages and disadvantages of various powertrain technologies? What are the most promising solutions to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions, and enhance safety and performance? What are the most cost-effective technologies to address the new and emerging requirements including the North American 2025 CAFÉ Standards? What’s the role of electro-mechanical powertrain integration? How do we improve sustainability in transportation? What technical breakthroughs are needed?

Panel 2: Game Changing Technologies in Power Conversion for Electrification of Vehicles (Air, Sea, Ground)
Monday, June 17, 2013
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Venue: Regency E-F
Panel Organizer and Moderator
: Dr. Bulent Sarlioglu, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of WEMPEC, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Panelists
:
Dr. Saeid Habibi, Senior NSERC Industrial Research Chair, McMaster University
Dr. Evgeni Ganev, Honeywell
Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara, University of Texas-Dallas (Invited)
TBD, Mercury Marine (will be invited)
Panel Summary
: This panel is for discussing the transformative and incremental technologies from the perspective of electrical and electro-mechanical power conversion for electrification of all vehicles.   Panel intends to highlights synergies and contrasts among electrification of various vehicles including more electric airplanes, electric vehicles, and ships.  The panel intends to facilitate information exchange and discussion about new power system architectures and new game changing technologies such as wide bandgap devices for power electronics and integrated drive systems using high-speed electric machines.  The panel will draw attendees from aerospace, automotive and marine OEMs (Tier 1 and Tier 2), and researchers from the field.

Panel 3: Educational Programs on Transportation Electrification: Current Status and Future Needs
Monday, June 17, 2013
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Venue: Regency G-H
Panel Moderators
: Jerry Ku and Steve Salley
Panelists
:
Gary Caille, Colorado State University
James Gover, Kettering University
Jeffrey Naber, Michigan Technology University
Don Siegel, University of Michigan
Angela Rolufs, Director, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Steven O. Salley, Wayne State University
Jerry Ku, Wayne State University
Panel Summary
: This panel will discuss the status of programs and courses developed with support by the Department of Energy for the advancement of electric drive vehicle engineering educational programs.  Panelists will discuss recent progress of their programs, including enrollment and student demand, student placement and employment, student survey results and other outcome measures.  They will also assess the need for additional courses and curricular changes in the area of transportation electrification.

Panel 4: Wireless Charging
Monday, June 17, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Moderator
: Dr. John Miller, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Panel Organizers
: Dr. John Miller and Dr. Omer C. Onar, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Panelists
:
Rebecca Hough, Co-Founder & CEO, Evatran
David Schatz, VP, WiTricity (or Katie Hall, WiTricity)
Andrew Daga, CEO, Momentum Dynamics
Jeff Muhs, Utah State University
Grzegorz Ombach, VP of Engineering, Qualcomm
Panel Summary
: Wireless power transfer (WPT) is a convenient, safe, and autonomous mean for electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle charging that has seen rapid growth in recent years for stationary applications. WPT does not require bulky contacts, plugs, and wires, is not affected by dirt or weather conditions, and is as efficient as conventional charging systems. When applied in-motion, WPT additionally relives range anxiety, adds further convenience, reduces battery size, and may help increase the battery life through charge sustaining approach. In the 1990’s there were isolated cases of inductive charging and other non-contacting means proposed, but it was not until the mid-2000’s when DOE took interest, then in 2008 investigated evanescent wave power transfer, that private industry escalated their activities. This panel session covers the insights from leading industry executives and researchers, wireless charging and EV public policy, issues and challenges of vehicle and infrastructure integration, synergies and interactions between roads and vehicles, recent technological advancements, emerging standards, and the broader deployment considerations.

Panel 5: Wide Bandgap Devices
Monday, June 17, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency E-F
Panel Organizer: Patrick McCluskey, University of Maryland and Burak Ozpineci, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Panelists:
David Grider,
Power Program Manager
Cree, Inc.
Madhu Sudhan Chinthavali, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Ranbir Singh, GeneSiC Semiconductor
Karim S. Boutros, HRL Laboratories LLC
Benjamin Blalock – University of Tennessee
Patrick McCluskey, University of Maryland
Panel Summary
: Over the last 20 years, a revolution has occurred in the generation, distribution, and use of power, as power electronics have replaced hydraulic, pneumatic and other traditional control methods.  This has occurred as a result of the smaller size and weight, higher efficiency (lower losses), and higher reliability of these solid-state power electronic switching systems. This revolution is now being extended via the incorporation of wide bandgap semiconductor devices in power electronic systems in place of silicon devices. These wide bandgap semiconductors promise even higher efficiency, faster switching, higher breakdown strength, higher thermal conductivity, and higher temperature operation. However, there are still issues related to material quality, device reliability, high temperature packaging, and thermal management of these wide bandgap power systems. We have assembled a panel of experts to address these issues standing in the way of widespread incorporation of wideband gap devices in power electronics.

Panel 6: Economy and Workforce Development of Electric Vehicle Industry
Monday, June 17, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency G-H
Panel Moderators
: CP Yeh and Doug Fertuck
Panelists
:
Douglas Fertuck, Macomb Community College, Associate Director of Center for Advanced Automotive Technology (CAAT)
Robert Feldmaier, Macomb Community College, Director of CAAT
CP Yeh, Wayne State University, Chair of the Division of Engineering Technology
Gene Liao, Wayne State University, WSU, Director of BS-ETT Program
Randall Champagne, GM, co-President of MAGMA
Gregory Moss, Denso, co-President of MAGMA
Panel Summary
: The panel will address the following topics:  engaging industry in curriculum development in electrified vehicle technology; the impact of future fuel economy improvement technologies on needed workforce skills (for technicians and engineers); strategies for upgrading skills of current employees; and the partnering of OEMs, suppliers, and academia to provide the necessary flow of skilled workers into the auto industry.

Panel 7: Rare Earth Free Magnet Material
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Moderator
: Hossein Dadkhah, Manager, Traction Motors, Chrysler Group LLC
Panelists
:
Dr. Yucong Wang, Manager of Material Technology Group, GM
V. Anand Sankaran, Executive Technical Leader and Chief Engineer, Ford
John Hayden, Senior Manager, Automotive Systems, Toshiba International Corporation
Andy Judge, Engineering Manager, ASML
Keith Klontz, President and CEO, Advanced Motor Tech
Steve Constantinides, Director of Technology, Arnold Magnetic technologies
Ayman El-Refaie, GE Global Research (Tentatively Confirmed)
Panel Summary: Rare earth elements are used in an ever-growing variety of applications that are the key to our modern technology. Rare-earth magnets are typically two to three times stronger than ferrite or ceramic permanent magnets. In electric motors, the use of rare-earth magnets enables greater performance to be obtained from a smaller, lighter motor. Efficiency and torque density of this type of motors are the highest. Clearly this has its attractions for electric vehicles, where a lighter, more efficient motor reduces the amount of stored energy that has to be transported in the form of petrol, hydrogen or batteries. For industrial applications, the benefits of rare-earth magnets typically relate to the higher performance available from a motor of the same size, or lighter motors for equipment that is in motion.
Rare earth elements are essential for a wide variety of defense technologies that are critical to national security. Global demand for rare earth materials is projected to grow, fueled in part by continued development and deployment of emerging energy technologies, and as a result, a global shortage of rare earths is anticipated in the near future. Although the United States has 13 percent of the world’s reserves, nearly all rare earth materials used in the country are imported from China.  In contrast, China has only 36 percent of the world’s rare earth reserves, yet accounts for more than 97 percent of global rare earth production. Furthermore, China has been reducing its export quotas in order to satisfy growing domestic demand, and is placing further emphasis on strengthening its vertically integrated supply chain in the rare earth industry by focusing on downstream rare earth products.  Manufacturers of motors and products that incorporate motors, as well as government agencies, have started to take the view that this situation is unsustainable and that alternative technologies need to be developed.  This panel is aimed at discussing some of these issues and the compromises made in incorporating rare earth free magnet materials.

Panel 8: On-board Chargers for PHEV/EV Application
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
2:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Venue: Regency E-F
Panel Organizer
: Dr. Fariborz Musavi, Delta-q Technologies Corp.
Panelists
:
Dr. Wilson Eberle, University of British Columbia
Dr. Lateef A. Kajouke, Engineering Specialist, General Motors
Dr. Gui-Jia Su, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Deepak S. Gautam, Delta-Q Technologies Corp.
Panel Summary
: There are several circuit topology solutions and design concepts proposed for on-board PHEV/EV chargers. The aim of this panel is to further understand the requirements and explore the challenges for each proposed concept and to provide the audience with a possible practical solution for their on-board PHEV/EV chargers concepts selection. Some common questions of interests for discussion are (but not limited to):

  • Single-stage vs Two-stage topology.
  • Isolated vs. Non- Isolated topology.
  • On-board charging vs. off-board charging.
  • Power level: 3.3kW vs. 6.6kW, and the implications on package size, volume, and cost.
  • Efficiency.
  • Requirement of an auxiliary LV 12V output.
  • Cooling system (liquid or air): Is it possible to be flexible?
  • Mechanical packaging challenges.
  • Common dimension and interface panel.
  • Regulatory requirements.
  • Challenges in component cost, and final finished product cost.
  • Devices, Si devices vs. wide band-gap devices.
  • DC link capacitors – Film capacitor vs. AL Electrolytic capacitor.
  • Warranty issues. How many years?
  • AEC-Q100 and Q101 qualification.
  • Manufacturing related challenges.

Panel 9: The Evolution of Heavy Duty Vehicle and Automotive Integrated Electronics Systems
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Moderator
: Mark Zachos, President of DG Technologies
Panelists
:
Mr. Danial Bartz, US Army TARDEC
Abel Carbonell, IDIADA Group
Dr. Massimo Osella, General Motors
Dr. Jeremy Daily, University of Tulsa
Truck OEM or DOT representative (invited)
Panel Summary
: This panel will focus on evolution of integrated electronics systems for heavy-duty vehicles and contrast them with automotive passenger vehicle advanced electronics. The panel discussion topics include:

  • The evolution of heavy duty hybrid vehicle and automotive integrated electronics systems.
  • Intelligent vehicle safety systems.
  • Electronic control systems and industry regulations.
  • Standards for diagnostics and communications.
  • Electronic controls and system design, development and testing.
  • Autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicle electronic control systems.

Panel 10: Aerospace Applications – More Electric Aircraft
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency E-F
Panel Organizer and Moderator:  Dr. Bulent Sarlioglu, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of WEMPEC, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Panelists:
Hassan Kojori, Honeywell
Brian Dyra, Woodward Inc.
Hao Huang, GE Aviation
Dr. Bulent Sarlioglu, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Panel Summary: We are witnessing a new beginning for the electrification of commercial aircraft. This electrification of aircraft is also called “More Electric Aircraft.” Recent commercial airplanes that went into the revenue flights are no longer using the constant frequency electrical bus in their electric power system. Rather, the electrical bus frequency proportionally changes as a function of engine speed. This change requires use of power electronic circuitries to convert variable frequency AC power to various AC and DC power types that are needed in the aircraft for different type of loads. Similarly, there is a trend to eliminate the pneumatic and hydraulic systems with electrically driven systems to achieve better reliability and cost advantages. This opens the door for more power conversion equipment using electrical power. Due to all these changes, aerospace is looking at achieving low-weight, low-volume, more-efficient, highly reliable power conversion systems and components. To achieve power quality, normal and transient performances are also very important design considerations that require an in-depth understanding of technologies used. This panel will present the panelists’ view of the More Electric Aircraft from the perspective of the generation, distribution, and utilization of electrical power. The panel will draw attendees from aerospace OEMs, suppliers (Tier 1 and Tier 2), and researchers from the field. Participants from EV/HV OEMs and suppliers will benefit from this panel by assessing the similarities and differences between aerospace and automotive industries.

Panel 11: IEVC Forum: Innovating The Transportation Landscape Via Advanced Vehicle-To-Infrastructure Connectivity
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
4:20 PM – 5:40 PM
Venue: Regency G-H
Panel Moderator
: Joachim Taiber, CU-ICAR
Panelists
:
Dale Hill, Founder of Proterra (confirmed)
Michael O’Halloran of CH2MHill (requested, needs final approval)
Marsden Burger, Principal Cabinentaxi LLC (confirmed)
John Bobbitt, CEO Exponent Design Works (confirmed)
Panel Summary
: This forum will provide multiple perspectives on how electrified vehicles interact with power and communication infrastructure. The first presentation will demonstrate how an electrical bus can be charged rapidly via a conductive technology. Although this technology is proprietary, the panel will discuss how conductive and wireless charging method for electrical buses can be standardized. Another aspect the panel will refer to is the need to ensure continued funding into the aging US road infrastructure by other means that the gasoline tax. The State of Oregon developed a mileage-based road usage fee model and we will learn in the second presentation how it works by connecting the vehicle with data centers and what it means for owners of electrified vehicles. Personal rapid transit systems have been so far a niche solution in the transportation segment but with the mass-deployment of vehicle electrification and autonomous driving systems they might experience a revival. We will learn in presentation more how PRT systems work and how they interact with power and communication infrastructure. Last but not least the development of the connected vehicle is leading to a growing segment of applications the driver of a vehicle can choose from to support the vehicle operation. The mobile phone acts as a bridge between the vehicle and the communication infrastructure of telecommunication service providers. An example of such an “app” is explained in the final panel presentation.

Panel 12: Role of Entrepreneurship in Transportation Electrification Opportunities/Challenges
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
8:30 AM – 10:10 AM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Organizer
: Jill Sorensen, BEVI and Kevin Taylor, IEEE SE Michigan Section
Panelists
:
Mark Zachos, President of DG Technologies
Lee Stogner, IEEE-USA
Dr. Ali Emadi, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Hybrid Powertrain and Director of MacAUTO, McMaster University
Jill Sorensen, BEVI
Panel Summary: This Entrepreneurship panel will address business development issues and resources for start-up companies focused on emerging technologies in the transportation and energy sectors. Panelists representing the entrepreneur, resources to support entrepreneurs and investors in transportation and energy start-ups will share their perspectives on driving innovation management and commercialization success. In addition, the panel will explore the role of entrepreneurship in advancing this transition both through entrepreneurship and intrepreneurship. Furthermore, the panel will focus on the importance of advancing innovation in the dynamic field of transportation electrification, and the opportunities possible from a range of perspectives.

Panel 13: Energy Storage Systems for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
8:30 AM – 10:10 AM
Venue: Regency E-F
Panel Organizer
:
Dr. Dennis Arthur Corrigan, Wayne State University
Panelists
:
J.T. Guerin, Engineering Specialist, General Motors
Alvaro Masias, Research Engineer, Ford Motor Company
Dr. Adam Timmons, Technical Specialist, Chrysler LLC
Martin Klein, Engineering Director, LG Chem Power
Carlton Brown, Director of Engineering, Robert Bosch Battery Systems LLC
Panel Summary: This panel will provide a perspective on the status of energy storage systems for hybrid and electric vehicles. What are the key issues today? What battery technologies will predominate going forward? Will lithium-ion batteries dominate HEV applications, or will there be continued opportunities for nickel-metal hydride batteries? What fundamental battery and systems improvements will be needed for widespread introduction of power-assist hybrid vehicles? What are the opportunities for advanced lead-acid batteries and supercapacitors for stop-start micro hybrids? What are the opportunities and technical barriers for high-energy lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries for battery electric vehicles? What is the capability of the US R&D community and battery industry to provide technology and products needed for widespread commercialization of electric drive vehicles?

Panel 14:  Transportation Electrification Standards Roundtable
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
10:40 AM – 12:00 PM
Venue: Regency C-D
Panel Moderator:
  Paul Bishop, P.E. President & Chief Engineer, The Bishop Group
Panelists:
Lee Stogner, IEEE-USA
Theodore Bohn, Argonne National Laboratory
Richard Scholer, Chrysler LLC
Paul Bishop, P.E. President & Chief Engineer, The Bishop Group
Panel Summary:
Electrification as used here addresses the transfer and use of electric power in lieu of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, internal combustion or other means. Electrification is surging in all areas of society. The impact of electrification on society will be at least as great as the personal computer. Most “civilians” will not directly see the applications but instead will benefit greatly in numerous untold ways. Our discussion will focus on transportation especially automotive vehicles. Transfer and use of electrical power and energy in transportation is burgeoning. As the advantages become recognized, the result is an ever-growing list of transportation applications. Operating in a global environment drives standardization on a global scale. This panel will use a roundtable format in an attempt to address standardization issues as viewed from different perspectives. Included will be representatives from industry and standards development organizations. The roundtable format is intended to provoke active participation and discussion among panel members and the audience.