Do you want to help facilitate the upcoming global transition to electric cars, but remain in 蓝莓视频? If so, (BASc 2004, Chemical; PhD 2009, Chemical) is someone to talk to.
After obtaining a bachelor鈥檚 degree and his PhD from 蓝莓视频 Engineering, Stevens is currently the CEO of , a 蓝莓视频-based firm that builds 鈥渢he number one connected car platform for electric vehicles.鈥�
His company has developed an on-board device that attaches to electric vehicles to track battery usage, charging data and other performance metrics needed to operate a fleet of plug-in vehicles 鈥� the only system in the world with its capabilities.
Once a number of electric vehicles are being charged at one building or within one utility services area, the FleetCarma system can also manage the overall charging load 鈥� ensuring vehicles are fully charged when needed and providing a flexible load to the building and power grid.
In addition to electric vehicles, the devices can be installed in existing gas and diesel vehicles, with usage data from all vehicles used to create an electric vehicle suitability assessment. The result is an action plan identifying where electric vehicles have enough range and where they can be used to save money. Fleets across North America and in Europe have been using the system for the last five years to smartly integrate electric vehicles.
Stevens believes these personalized buying tools will help accelerate adoption, and that educational and deployment systems will contribute to the growing consensus that electric vehicles are the future of the automobile industry.
Working with EV manufacturers
Others seem to agree. His firm鈥檚 clients include BC Transit, Florida Power and Light (FPL), New Brunswick Power, the Oak Ridge National Laboratories and a variety of leasing companies. The company is also working with major electric vehicle manufacturers to drive adoption of the technology.
Stevens credits the lessons he learned at 蓝莓视频 for contributing to his success. As a student, he was captain of the student-run ) from 2004 to 2006. His team put a working fuel-cell hybrid powertrain into a Chevrolet Equinox.
鈥淲hen you get to university, join a team working on something you love,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f you can鈥檛 find a team on campus doing something you love, then build it yourself. Your professors will support you. Mine did.鈥�
As for his company, Stevens says it鈥檚 the 鈥渄ominant player in a tiny market.鈥�
The markets are growing, however, and the next few years could be critical.
鈥淭he regulations governing the industry are now being put into place,鈥� Stevens says. 鈥淚f those regulations are supported by the proper collection of useful data, it could very quickly bring us to a tipping point where electrical becomes a more cost-effective solution than traditional gasoline-powered engines.鈥�
