Tim G. Richter
GE Global ResearchElectric Propulsion Center of Excellence Leader
Tim Richter received the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Masters of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1992 and 2000, respectively. In his early career, Mr. Richter designed control systems for automated machinery in the semiconductor and food packaging industries. Mr. Richter joined GE in June 2000 and has held various positions in product simulation and technology development.In 2009, Mr. Richter served as technology liaison between GE and the global mining industry, identifying various technologies capable of creating step change improvement to today’s processes. Currently, Tim is leading the technology development team at GE Global Research working on next generation electric propulsion systems.
Electric Propulsion and Energy Storage: One size does not fit all
Since the first electric vehicle in the late 1800s, electric propulsion and energy storage have struggled to break into the mainstream markets, continually being beaten down by low-cost petroleum fuels. Today, it’s hard to read a newspaper without seeing a new electric vehicle concept or production announcement alongside the stories of climate change and energy security. These market drivers are taking hold and changing the way we think about energy in general.Billions of dollars are being invested in the lithium battery, perhaps as the last piece of the puzzle. However, the difficulty in moving to a carbon-free “fuel” lies in the details – in other words, “it all depends on the drive cycle”. In this presentation, we will explore the sensitivity of more electric systems to their applications and the wide range of technologies that are required to achieve cost effective solutions. Also discussed are the difficulties that are inherent in developing products for these emerging markets.