Electrification

UT’s Approach

Tailpipe emission pollutants directly affect human health, and the transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to US greenhouse gas emissions. There is immense potential to create positive change through power-related research. 

We envision a large-scale shift from combustion engines to zero-emission electric motors, while the nation’s grid simultaneously incorporates more electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind. Our work aids this shift by advancing the performance of electric propulsion and battery storage—and by making electric transportation more attractive to more users. 

For example, we’re advancing new technologies like wireless power transfer to make charging more efficient and convenient. By streamlining the design and function of power electronics, we’re helping vehicles perform better (think quicker acceleration, for example) and run longer between charges—using smaller batteries. Our work is helping solve common concerns about EVs, while resulting in less electricity consumption over time, and our innovations help reduce manufacturing and ownership costs down the line.

Future generations of connected automated vehicles will need even more power to run sensors, cameras, wireless communications, and data computation. Some of our researchers are proactively developing electrical power components that will enable reliable performance. Others are focusing on battery safety and durability or exploring new materials to improve power output in relation to battery size. 

We’re also investigating opportunities for EVs to strengthen the grid. Since renewable sources do not produce electricity constantly, EVs (or old EV batteries that need a second life) can feed power stored in their batteries back to the grid when needed. Solutions like these can strengthen the grid’s reliability and resilience while enabling America to increase renewables.