FEV, Inc. Powertrain Innovation Forum Addresses Today's Issues at SAE World Congress

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- FEV, Inc. (FEV) today announced the confirmation of the presentation schedule for the FEV Powertrain Innovation Forum at the 2010 SAE World Congress. The Congress will be held April 13 – 15, 2010 at Cobo Center in Detroit. This year's Forum provides insight into the topics that stand at the forefront of the transportation technology debate. Sessions will include:

• Smart Grid Technology: Are Electric Vehicles Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?
• The Battle over Batteries:  What's the Right Way to Compare Fuel Economy?
• The OEM Dichotomy: Meeting Environmental and Fuel Economy Requirements and Still Giving the Customer the Vehicle They Want to Drive.
• Rising Out of the Ashes: The Top 5 Emerging Powertrain Technologies for 2010.
• Turbochargers and EGR are Hot: What are the Cooling and Lubrication Challenges That Need to be Addressed?

The Powertrain Innovation Forum runs from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm on Tues., April 13, from 9:30 am – 3:00 pm on Wed., April 14, and 9:30 am – 11:30 am on Thurs., April 15.

"As hybrid and electric technology continues to become an integral part of today's vehicle mix, we as an industry must address certain fundamental issues resulting from this shift. This year's Powertrain Forum examines these issues," said Gary Rogers, president and CEO of FEV, Inc.  "At the same time, we must continue to develop more traditional, higher volume, technologies and make them more efficient consumers of our limited resources, while still providing the functionality that is demanded by the marketplace."

FEV worked closely with SAE to develop a program that covers topics that are both timely and provocative, according to Robert J. Last, FEV vice president of operations and communications.

"We view the Forum as an opportunity to focus and stimulate discussion within the industry," said Last. "To ensure continued growth and success, our industry needs to be more open; we must lay the issues out on the table so that we can collaboratively develop a technology pathway that meets both the legislative requirements and the demands of the consumer. We are proud to be a part of that collaboration."

Details of The Powertrain Innovation Forum schedule include:

Tuesday, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm - Smart Grid Technology: Are Electric Vehicles Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution?

This panel will discuss the potential of "smart electrical vehicles" as well as the significant issues presented by the vision of a smart grid in which electric vehicles become both energy consumers and storage devices.

Tuesday, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm - The Battle over Batteries: What's the Right Way to Compare Fuel Economy?

This session provides a balanced view surrounding the issue of accounting for energy consumption in today's electric and hybridized vehicles.

Wednesday, 9:30 am – 11:30 am - The OEM Dichotomy: Meeting Environmental and Fuel Economy Requirements and Still Giving the Customer the Vehicle They Want to Drive.

The panel delves into the debate of small and green versus big and functional.  Participants will discuss the trade-offs between regulations and sales.

Wednesday, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Rising Out of the Ashes: The Top 5 Emerging Powertrain Technologies for 2010

The panel presents the top five new transportation technology trends/needs in the North American Powertrain market along with a discussion about why these technologies rise to the top of the list.

Thursday, 9:30 am – 11:30 am - Turbochargers and EGR are Hot: What are the Cooling and Lubrication Challenges That Need to be Addressed?

Heavy-duty engines are already there and it's coming for light duty.  This session looks at challenges faced by OEs and suppliers in new cooling and lubrication requirements demanded by turbochargers in a high EGR environment.

About FEV

The FEV Group is an internationally recognized powertrain and vehicle engineering company that supplies the global transportation industry.  FEV offers a complete range of engineering services, providing support across the globe to customers in the design, analysis, prototyping, powertrain and transmission development, as well as vehicle integration, calibration and homologation for advanced internal combustion gasoline-, diesel-, and alternative-fueled powertrains. FEV also designs, develops and prototypes advanced vehicle / powertrain electronic control systems and hybrid-electric engine concepts that address future emission and fuel economy standards.  The FEV Test Systems division is a global supplier of advanced test cell, instrumentation and test equipment.  The FEV Group employs a staff of over 1,800 highly skilled specialists at advanced technical centers on three continents.  FEV, Inc. employs approximately 300 personnel at FEV's North American Technical Center in Auburn Hills, MI.

SOURCE FEV, Inc.