Driving the Heat: Tackling Thermal Challenges in Electric Vehicles

This week’s ECE Seminar features Dr. Venkat Subramanian, Control Systems Engineer at Nikola Motor Company.

The increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as an alternative to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles presents unique engineering challenges, particularly in thermal management. While ICE vehicles and EVs strive for efficiency and extended driving range, their thermal control systems and requirements differ significantly. Maintaining optimal temperatures for batteries, power electronics, and electric motors is essential for the performance, safety, and longevity of EVs.

The advancements in EV technology offer numerous opportunities to make a significant impact on overall vehicle performance. This seminar will provide an overview of the complex design and operational challenges of thermal control systems in EV, highlighting their evolution as EV
technologies have matured. We will discuss how EV systems handle heating and cooling needs during high-demand driving scenarios, fast charging, and extreme climate conditions.

About our Speaker

Dr. Venkat Ram Subramanian is a Senior Controls Engineer at Nikola Motors with a focus on developing innovative thermal control solutions for electric vehicles (EV). He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where his research focused on understanding dynamic
relationships in networked systems using corrupted data streams. He has contributed to research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in sustainable energy dispatch. Post graduation, he transitioned to the EV industry, specializing in thermal control systems at Rivian and Nikola Motors. Dr. V Subramanian is passionate about sustainability and advancing technologies that promote environmental responsibility.

About our Program

The ECE Seminar is designed to engage students in their discipline. Although many topics are specific to electrical and computer engineering, all campus community members are welcome to attend.

Refreshments are provided by the ECE Department. Join us at 10:30 AM every Wednesday to network and sign in. Out of respect for our speakers, please arrive on time.