Events Calendar

EE-EP Seminar

Speaker: Chris Mi, University of Michigan-Dearborn

Talk Title: Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicle Batteries for Economic and Safe Future Transportation

Abstract: Electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have attracted worldwide attentions because of their capabilities to improve energy and environment sustainability. However, inconvenience of charging, high cost, short driving range, and safety concerns of the battery system have hindered the mass market penetration of EVs and PHEVs. This presentation will look at studies which address some of these issues.
The first part of the presentation will focus on wireless charging technology that helps eliminate the need of carrying cables and plugging in, and offer significant improvement in convenience and electric safety for EV and PHEV charging. Although Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) has been commercialized for consumer electronics and also investigated for EV wireless charging, the size, efficiency, and cost are key obstacles that prevent WPT from widely deployed. Our research in this area aims at novel designs that can considerably reduce size and cost while increase coupling coefficient and system efficiency. The second part will look at EV battery study that addresses safety and reliability concerns and provides diagnostic and prognostic functions. Finally, there will be some discussion on the latest research activities at the GATE Center of Electric Drive Transportation that further enhance safety and cost advantages of EVs and PHEVs.


Biography: Chris Mi is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Director of DOE funded GATE Center for Electric Drive Transportation at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. He is a fellow of IEEE. He received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China, and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, all in electrical engineering. Previously he was an Electrical Engineer with General Electric Canada Inc. He was the President and the Chief Technical Officer of 1Power Solutions, Inc. from 2008 to 2011.
His research interests are in electric and hybrid vehicles. He has taught tutorials and seminars on the subject of HEV/PHEV for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the IEEE, workshops sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He has delivered courses to major automotive OEMs and suppliers, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Tyco Electronics, A&D Technology, Johnson Controls, Quantum Technology, Delphi, Siemens, and the European Ph.D School.
Dr. Mi is the recipient of “Distinguished Teaching Award” and “Distinguished Research Award” of University of Michigan Dearborn. He is the recipient of 2007 IEEE Region 4 “Outstanding Engineer Award,” IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section “Outstanding Professional Award.” and “SAE Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award,” and ranked four times as “Top Associate Editors” by IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology. Dr. Mi is Associate Editor of three IEEE Transactions and an editorial board member of two IET Journals.
Dr. Mi was the Chair (2008-2009) and Vice Chair (2006-2007) of the IEEE Southeastern Michigan Section, the general Chair of the 5th IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference. He is the topic chair for the 2011 IEEE International Future Energy Challenge, and the General Chair for the 2013 IEEE International Future Energy Challenge. He is a Distinguished Lecturer (DL) of the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society.


Host: EE-Electrophysics

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Marilyn Poplawski