Burak Ozpineci

Title: Traction drive components and charging trends for electric vehicles

Abstract: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been at the forefront of advancing electric traction drives and wireless charging technologies. Under the Electric Drive Technologies Consortium, ORNL has led the efforts to significantly enhance the performance of electric drive systems. Key objectives include increasing power density by more than eightfold, reducing costs by 50% compared to 2015 benchmarks, and improving overall efficiency. This ambitious initiative has united top experts from industry, academia, and national laboratories to address the most challenging aspects of electric drive technology.

The research conducted under the consortium has focused on critical components such as capacitors, power modules, inverters, thermal management systems, and electric motors. This presentation will showcase the cutting-edge component technologies developed through these collaborative efforts, emphasizing the innovations that have emerged as a result. These advancements not only mark significant progress in electric motor drive technologies but also lay the groundwork for their widespread adoption in next-generation electric vehicles, driving us toward a more sustainable and efficient transportation future.

In addition to electric traction drives, ORNL has made groundbreaking progress in wireless charging technology, including the demonstration of a 270kW wireless charging system using patented polyphase charging coils. The presenter will also discuss current research in this area, offering insights into future trends and the potential impact on the electric vehicle industry.

Biography: Burak Ozpineci earned his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Orta Dogu Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, in 1994. He then completed his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1998 and 2002, respectively. Since 2001, he has been with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he began as a student and has held positions as a researcher, founding group leader of the Power and Energy Systems Group, group leader of the Power Electronics and Electric Machinery Group. He currently serves as a Corporate Fellow and the Section Head of the Vehicle and Mobility Systems Research Section. Additionally, he has a joint faculty appointment with The University of Tennessee.

Throughout his career, Dr. Ozpineci has received numerous accolades, including being named a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for his contributions to transportation electrification and wireless charging of electric vehicles. His achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards such as the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) Vehicle and Transportation Systems Achievement Award and the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) Outstanding Young Member Award. Additionally, he has been honored with the Nagamori Award, the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Distinguished Achievement Award, and several R&D 100 Awards.

Dr. Ozpineci is actively involved in the IEEE, currently serving in various leadership roles, including as Vice President for Technical Activities of the IEEE Transportation Electrification Council.