eTech Learning: EV & AV Technology

For this episode Ryan Maughan speaks to EV industry expert Eric Azeroual, who is VP of the Danfoss Editron On-Highway Business Unit.

Eric has been involved in the electrification industry since 2004, when after graduating from Polytechnique Montreal with a degree in mechatronic engineering, he joined what was TM4, an early pioneer in the electric vehicle industry.

TM4's history started in the early '90s, Hydro-Québec, the forward looking power generation utility for the Canadian province of Quebec, had a research and development team that was experimenting in electric vehicle drivetrain systems trying to develop technology that would make cleaner alternatives for vehicle powertrains viable. With some notable successes leading to the TM4 business being created in 1998.

In 2018 the business received a major investment from the Tier 1 transmissions company Dana, where Eric became head of global electrification sales.

Eric left Dana to join the team at Danfoss Editron heading up the on-highway business unit in July '21. Danfoss Editron is the division of the major global Tier 1 Danfoss focused on heavy-duty electric powertrain solutions for mobile applications in marine, off-highway and on-highway

Ryan and Eric discuss the history of the electric commercial vehicle space and Eric's experiences and his outlook on what is looking like an exciting future within the Danfoss business. Including how the Editron business origins and the continued investment in the area with the recently announced merger between Danfoss Silicon Power and Semikron.

Eric Azeroual LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-azeroual-9b093a5/

Danfoss Editron website: https://www.danfoss.com/en/about-danfoss/our-businesses/power-solutions/danfoss-editron/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech49 website: https://www.etech49.com
eTech Developments website: https://www.etechdevelopments.com

For this episode Ryan Maughan speaks to Richard Clarke, Principal Mechanical Engineer at McLaren Applied

Richard is a mechanical engineer who started his career at Dyson and then moved into the motorsport industry at Redbull and then to McLaren Applied. At McLaren Applied Richard is heavily involved in the companies telematics and sensor technology business.

Ryan and Richard discuss the motorsport industry and his experiences including the emerging trends for electrification and the adoption of more advanced sensor technology, including how McLaren and their customers use the Transense torque sensing technology alongside their advanced ECU products and the launch of their new high performance traction inverters.

Whilst this episode was not specifically sponsored by McLaren Applied or Transense Technologies PLC Ryan is a Director of Transense and therefore has an interest in that business.

Richard Clarke LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richjamesclarke87/

McLaren Applied website: https://www.mclarenapplied.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech49 website: https://www.etech49.com
eTech Developments website: https://www.etechdevelopments.com

For this episode Ryan Maughan speaks to Isobel Sheldon, the Chief Strategy Officer at UK battery manufacturing company Britishvolt.

Isobel is a pioneer of the battery industry, having been involved in the development of battery systems and technology since 2003. She has held roles at Ricardo, Johnsson Mathey and Cummins and then joined the team at the UK Battery Innovation Centre or UKBIC.

See podcast #44 for an interview with Isobel when she was Director of business development at UK BIC, here: https://etech49.com/ep44-interview-with-isobel-sheldon-ukbic/

Ryan and Isobel discuss the battery industry and her experiences and then talk about the business and strategy at Britishvolt including their acquisition of EAS in Germany, cell format roadmap and much more!

Isobel Sheldon LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isobel-sheldon-obe-62a0b987/

Britishvolt website: https://www.britishvolt.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode Ryan Maughan speaks to Jacqui Murray who is Deputy Director of the Faraday Battery Challenge, part of Innovate UK.

Jacqui helps lead this £330m million UK government investment initiative to develop batteries that are more cost-effective, high-quality, durable, safe, low-weight and recyclable.

Ryan and Jacqui talk about her background in the steel industry, environmental regulation and advanced materials innovation, how the Faraday Challenge came about in the first place and the work and projects the challenge has supported.

A keen STEM ambassador, Jacqui takes an active leadership approach on diversity and inclusion throughout her work. Named as one of Autocar’s Top 100 Women in Automotive based on Seniority and Influence in 2020, she is also a Visiting Professor (Royal Academy of Engineering) at the University of Leicester, where she enhances the engineering programme.

To find out more about the Faraday Challenge and it has been doing to support and encourage the development of world leading battery technology in the UK, listen to this latest episode!

Jacqui Murray LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-murray-0078364b/

Faraday Challenge website: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-offer/our-main-funds/industrial-strategy-challenge-fund/future-of-mobility/faraday-battery-challenge/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode Ryan Maughan speaks to Claire Miller who is Director of Technology and Innovation at Octopus Electric Vehicles, part of the Octopus Energy group.

With the huge rise in the cost of electricity driven by the price of Gas (which is a bit of an anomaly in the electricity market) there has never been a better time to talk about the potential of Vehicle to Grid or V2G technology to help deal with electricity demand peaks during the day and consequently remove the need for gas peaker plants - which would help to bring down the cost of energy bills!

But what is V2G and how does it work? Claire ran a significant trial program and agreed to talk to us about it what they found and the wider energy market.

Claire Miller LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millerlclaire/

Octopus Electric Vehicles: https://octopusev.com/

Octopus Energy: https://octopus.energy/

V2G Trial info: https://octopusev.com/powerloop

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode of the eTech podcast Ryan talks to semiconductor industry veteran turned sales and marketing coach Alastair Boyd about the current challenges and headwinds affecting the industry.

You don't have to look far today to see the issues the semiconductor industry is facing, long lead times and supply chain challenges meaning that many of the end products which rely on semi conductors such as cars and consumer electronics have struggled with irregular production. Components worth a relatively small amount sometimes less than $1 but essential to the operation of the product stopping production and supply.

Alastair has almost 40 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, having held senior roles at Analog Devices, Linear Technology, Maxim and more.

Ryan and Alastair discuss the events that have led to todays problems, what is happening to solve them and also what designers and engineers can do to minimise the impact on their projects.

To find out more check out this latest episode today!

Alastair Boyd LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastairboyd1/

Applied LinkedIn corporate Website: https://appliedlinkedin.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode of the eTech podcast Ryan Maughan speaks to Dr Graham Cooley from hydrogen electrolyser specialists ITM Power PLC.

ITM manufacture market-leading PEM electrolysers which help decarbonise industry, heat, power and mobility by harnessing the power of green hydrogen. They have an ambitous plan to scale up the business to meet the demands of the market for green hydrogen.

Hydrogen as an energy vector in transport can be controversial, but in this podcast we learn much more about the hydrogen economy. Where fossil fuel derived hydrogen is used in industry today and the opportunity that exists for hydrogen to support the shift to net zero.

Graham received his PhD from Brunel University in 1989 where he was researching conductivity mechanisms in conducting polymers. He has gained more than 30 years experience in the development of energy storage and conversion systems. Graham is a recognised expert in the hydrogen market and the development of efficient electrolyser systems. To find out more check out this podcast today.

Graham Cooley LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamcooley/

ITM Power corporate website: https://itm-power.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode of the eTech podcast Ryan Maughan speaks to Mike Potts CEO of Streetdrone. Streetdrone was formed by Mike and Previous podcast guest Mark Preston (Ep 68) in 2017 to develop autonomous vehicle technology for first mile and last mile logistics.

Streetdrone has successfully developed an autonomous technology test and development platform which has been used by many organisations to develop their technology.

The company has also successfully deployed an autonomous and tele-operated terminal tractor as part of the 5GCAL project in the North East of England combining full autonomy with teleoperation has allowed this technology to be deployed more quickly than would have otherwise been possible.

To find out more about Streetdrone and their amazing work in autonomous logistics check out our latest podcast!

Mike Potts LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejpotts

Streetdrone corporate website: https://www.streetdrone.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

Ryan Maughan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/acexryan

eTech website: https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode of the eTech podcast Ryan Maughan speaks to Sam Cockerill, CEO of Libertine PLC. Libertine are a UK based developer of linear generators, this is an interesting technology utilising a free piston engine and a linear electrical machine to create an engine with an infinitely variable stroke and compression ratio.

Libertine are hoping to develop this technology for industrial power generation applications using bio-fuels and synthetic fuels. Whilst this is a combustion engine, it does provide very efficient power conversion and also minimal emissions of harmful pollutants as the combustion process can be controlled in a way that has never been possible before, due to the active linear generator that gives effectively an adjustable engine stroke, compression ratio and piston velocity to very precisely control the combustion process.

Ryan and Sam discuss the linear generator technology and Libertine's journey from a startup to an AIM listed business.

Sam Cockerill LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-cockerill-7203982/

Libertine corporate website: https://www.libertine.co.uk/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

eTech website – https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited

For this episode of the eTech podcast Ryan Maughan speaks to Dr Craig Fisher from Max Power Semiconductor.

As the Semiconductor shortage is still causing significant disruption in the automotive world we thought it would be good to find out some more from someone with expert knowledge of wide band gap semiconductor devices.

Craig is the UK Managing Director of MaxPower Semiconductor Inc, a US based company that specialises in the design and supply of advanced Silicon Carbide based MOSFETs for power switching applications.

Craig did a PhD at the University of Warwick looking at the design of semiconductor devices then went on to a number of exciting roles in industry. He has been working with Max Power since 2020 helping them expand into the European market.

Ryan and Craig talk about SiC devices and future technology developments that will affect that industry. To find out more check out the podcast!

Dr Craig Fisher LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-a-f-26518212/

MaxPower corporate website: https://maxpowersemi.com/

Ryan Maughan LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-maughan-a2893610/

eTech website – https://www.etech49.com

Follow eTech49 on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etech49-limited