Electrification of Advanced Military Vehicles (Future of Electric Vehicles USA 2010)

Dr. Zoran Filipi is a Research Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, Deputy Director of the Automotive Research Center and faculty Fellow of the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute. He received his MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Belgrade (1987, 1992 respectively), and joined University of Michigan in 1994. His main research interests are advanced IC engine combustion concepts, alternative powertrains, and impact of transportation on energy supply and climate change.

On-going efforts on simulation and analysis of hybrid propulsion systems focus on architecture, design and control of electric and hydraulic hybrid powertrains, and Powertrain-In-the-Loop integration.

Prof. Filipi published over 100 papers in international journals and refereed conference proceedings. He is currently the Chair of the SAE Advanced Power Sources Committee, and member of the Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission.

The Automotive Research Center (ARC) is a University-based U.S. Army Center of Excellence for advancing the technology of high fidelity simulation of military and civilian ground vehicles. It represents the key basic research partner of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center - National Automotive Center (TARDEC-NAC) in Warren, Michigan.

 

Our mission is to study and demonstrate the creation of a flexible, agile simulation system composed of a hierarchy of models of varying resolution that can be tailored to meet a range of simulation objectives and can significantly impact the product development process of military and commercial automotive manufacturers. The Center supports development of a realistic distributed interactive simulation network for designing large complex systems, and promotes technical and cultural interaction between the defense and civilian automotive sectors.

 

The Center has increased emphasis on energy efficient propulsion systems for ground vehicles, particularly those employing hybrid powertrains. Alternative fuels add a new dimension to research on advanced combustion engines. In addition, advanced structures are considered in the context of survivability, condition based maintenance and reliability optimized design. We address the new high technology needs for large trucks and off-road vehicles as well as robots.