ONLINE: Sustainable Energy Seminar Series

media release: Wisconsin Energy Institute talk: "Dirty is in the Details: Electric vs. Electrified Powertrains, by Andrea Strzelec, program director, Engineering Professional Development.

Abstract:

There is a lot of very important discourse about the need for a cleaner and more energy efficient future. This is fantastic! However, it can also be fanatic and lacking in scientific truth. Engine bans and “Zero Emissions” vehicles are perfect examples of this.

I want to stipulate that the issues surrounding CO2 emissions are real and problematic. However, just like all hot button issues, there are a lot of false claims surrounding this issue that need to be addressed. Knee-jerk reactions based on faulty assumptions or an incomplete view of the engineering analysis will not solve the problem, and in some cases may make it worse. In this talk, I will try to explain WHY.

There is a significant difference between “electric” and “electrified” when it comes to vehicle powertrains that is necessary to understand. In addition, much like “there is no free lunch” there is also no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle or ZEV. Drawing the “box” for our analysis has to be done honestly for comparison – there is just one global atmosphere for us to inhabit – so there is no hiding the truth.

In this talk, I will focus on the details of why word choice matters when it comes to clean vehicles, and how….. “dirty” is in the details.

You can register for all upcoming webinars in this series at the same time (or pick and choose which ones to register for) using this registration link:

https://uwmadison.zoom.us/webinar/register/1516110097773/WN_QWZqAWJQSfC6kW1XCys5eA

Upcoming seminar details can be found here: https://energy.wisc.edu/events/seminar-series

Archives of past seminars can be found here: https://energy.wisc.edu/events/seminar-series-archive

Sustainable Energy Seminar Series

3:30-4:30 p.m., Wisconsin Energy Institute, Room 1115 (when in-person lectures resume)

The Wisconsin Energy Institute is helping facilitate a series of seminars focused on University of Wisconsin–Madison expertise in sustainable energy. The series will allow students and the public to explore sustainable energy solutions from the small to large, learn about the challenges facing sustainable energy and interact with experts from across campus. If you would like to receive email notifications for upcoming seminars, send an email to join-energy-seminar@lists.wisc.edu.