Transforming Energy Lecture - Patrick Davis

Wednesday, April 1, 2015
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
1402 Chemistry Building, University of Maryland, College Park
Amanda McCrum
301 405 9378
amccrum@umd.edu

Patrick Davis, Director, Vehicle Technologies Program Office, Department of Energy

Advanced Vehicle Technologies - Challenges, Opportunities and Trends in Addressing Petroleum Dependency and Climate Change

Lecture Abstract:

Improving energy security and addressing climate change are challenges which are directly impacted by our transportation sector. The sector is responsible for approximately 2/3 of U.S. petroleum consumption and 1/3 of our carbon emissions. On-road transportation - our personal vehicles as well as the commercial vehicles which deliver goods and services - constitute the large majority of petroleum usage and carbon emissions in the sector. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) seeks to improve the efficiency of on-road vehicles through the development of advanced technologies that can cost-effectively reduce fuel consumption, lower carbon emissions and meet future standards for criteria pollutants.

VTO funds research and development (R&D) focusing on four primary areas: vehicle electrification (batteries, power electronics and motors), combustion, fuels & lubricants, and lightweight materials (fuel cell, hydrogen, and biofuel technology R&D is conducted in sister offices). A review of current VTO activities, goals, technical targets and achievements is presented. In addition, emerging trends, technologies, research approaches, and public policies will be addressed, including:

- Changing energy use patterns, demographics and trends in the sector
- $2/gallon gasoline and the shale gas revolution
- Approaches to meeting the 2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards
- Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) impacts to energy consumption
- The coordinated optimization of fuel properties and engine efficiency
- SuperTruck II - doubling the fuel economy of Class 8 trucks
- The importance of vehicle electrification, the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, and the emerging opportunity to integrate electric vehicles with grid operations
- Deployment, outreach and education - transitioning technology to market, the Clean Cities program, and the VTO student competition series 

The urgency of our energy and climate challenges requires ever faster technology and market evolution. This lecture is a snapshot of the current status of technology, the need for further research and development, and recognition of how the landscape is changing and the need to constantly reassess the direction of research efforts.

Biography:
Patrick Davis is the Director of the Vehicle Technologies Office in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Vehicle Technologies Office supports approximately $280 million in annual research funding for hybrid drivetrains, advanced batteries, lightweight materials, advanced combustion and fuels, vehicle systems integration, and Clean Cities deployment activities.  Mr. Davis has more than 30 years of public service, is a Chemical Engineer (BS, University of Maryland, ’83), and has devoted virtually his entire career to the development of vehicle, alternative fuel, and electrochemical technologies.  He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive.

Audience: Public 

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