ZJUI Executive Dean and power electronics expert Philip T Krein, the Grainger Emeritus Chair Professor in Electric Machinery and Electromechanics at the University of Illinois, member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering, and fellow of U.S. National Academy of Inventors, recently spoke with Mike Koon on an Illinois Innovators Podcast about the future of advanced energy applications, specifically in electric vehicles and solar power.

Krein is a leading expert on power electronics, machines, drives, transportation electrification, and electrical energy, with emphasis on nonlinear control approaches.  He is a past chair of the IEEE Transportation Electrification Community.

In a recent interview with IEEE Spectrum, Krein detailed ways that colleges need to be preparing the next generation of transportation engineers, which includes training in artificial intelligence and robotics. When discussing the growing future of electric vehicles, Krein noted that the challenge with electric vehicles is "to integrate them much more completely with controls, advanced capabilities, and a certain amount of intelligence."

"It's not just about vehicles that ultimately can drive themselves, it's also about vehicles that make the best use of a limited energy source like a battery pack and about vehicles that can take advantage of safety functions and various kinds of potential added features possible with electrification."

Check out the podcast here. 

Read more about Krein’s interview with IEEE Spectrum here.

Source：https://ece.illinois.edu/newsroom/article/34023