Manufacturers at the forefront of sustainability efforts, who are intent on electrifying commercial trucks and off-highway machines, still see the necessity to include internal combustion engines (ICE) in their future product plans. Diesel engine development is continuing, and alternative low- and zero-carbon fuels — such as renewable diesel, CNG/RNG, and hydrogen — are gaining momentum to meet stricter emissions regulations. Hybridization also can prolong the relevance of ICEs, and it appears to be growing in favor for certain commercial and off-highway vehicle applications.
This 60-minute webinar from the editors of Truck & Off-Highway Engineering will detail the ongoing engineering efforts to keep combustion engines operating efficiently and reliably for the next couple decades and beyond. An audience Q&A session will follow the technical presentation.
Speakers:
Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director, Engine Technology Forum
Allen Schaeffer is the Executive Director of the Engine Technology Forum, a Washington DC-based association established in 2023 that evolved from the Diesel Technology Forum. The Forum’s work focuses on the sustainability of advanced internal combustion engines in a wide range of applications. Allen has more than 35 years of experience working on climate, energy, environmental, public health, and transportation issues. This includes 13 years at the American Trucking Associations where he served as Vice President of Environmental Policy, representing the industry on landmark legislation such as the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. He was appointed and served on EPA’s Federal Advisory Committee Subcommittee on Ozone, Particulate Matter and Regional Haze as well as the Clean Diesel Workgroup of the Mobile Source Technical Review Committee. Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a master’s degree in environmental health sciences from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Mihai Dorobantu, Ph.D., Director – Technology, Planning, and Government Affairs, Eaton
As Director of Technology, Planning, and Government Affairs at Eaton, Dr. Mihai Dorobantu leads the Mobility Group’s Advanced Technology Team and is responsible for long-term technology, strategy, and government affairs. He is focused on advancing sustainable mobility solutions and ensuring alignment with global regulatory trends. Mihai has a background in modeling and simulation tools, with more than two decades of experience driving innovation in powertrain systems, vehicle efficiency, and emissions reduction. At Eaton, he has overseen research and development in areas such as complex systems and advanced controls applied to intelligent systems, big-data systems, modeling and simulation, model-based design, hardware-in-loop validation, and embedded software design. He is widely published in technical journals, frequently speaks at global mobility and energy conferences, and serves as a trusted voice on the intersection of technology, sustainability, and regulation in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries. Mihai holds a Ph.D. in applied mathematics.
Venu Gupta, Engine Product Strategy Planner, John Deere
Venu Gupta leads Engine Product Strategy and Power Solutions planning for John Deere. He is responsible for assessing sustainability technology options, evaluating their readiness, and developing implementation strategies into Deere products. Venu has more than 25 years of experience working with medium- and heavy-duty diesel engines for on- and off-highway applications. He has worked in various roles during his career in engineering, program management, and product management. In his last role as a Director of Product Management, he led the development of decarbonization solutions for heavy-haul rail applications. Venu holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Akron.
Moderator:
Amanda Hosey, Editor, SAE Media Group
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