Getting Smart About Transportation
Conventional vehicles that rely on fossil fuels are harmful to the environment—and by extension, to humans. But serious changes are needed if we are to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. To address this, engineers around the world are competing to build the next generation of cost-effective, smart, energy-efficient cars. Plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles are set to become one of the main forms of transportation globally by 2030. This is a step in the right direction, since a typical electric vehicle produces significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than one that runs on internal combustion.
Dr. Ali Emadi, Canada Research Chair in Transportation Electrification and Smart Mobility, is playing a key role in this transition. He and his research team are working to improve the efficiency, performance and cost-effectiveness of electrified powertrains, powertrain components, and vehicle energy management systems. They are building on Emadi’s previous work in this area to develop and optimize these and related components, such as power electronic converters and electric propulsion motors.
Emadi’s research will bring new, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly solutions to the market more quickly. It will also enable higher-performance, lower-cost, and reduced- and zero-emissions vehicles to be on the roads sooner. Ultimately, this will help Canada achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.