Ahead of International EV Batteries 2016 (6-7 December, London), we spoke to Brian Lawrence, Principal Engineer – Hybrid Regulatory Affairs at Jaguar Land Rover. Brian explains his role and involvement in EVs and EV batteries, the critical challenges, five to 10 year vision and what he is looking forward to by attending and presenting.
Brian Lawrence: Principal Engineer – Hybrid Regulatory Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover
Brian Lawrence is a Chartered Engineer and graduate from Brunel University in Production Engineering. His diverse career, in and around the motor industry spans 30+ years. He has worked for Castrol and Shell as OEM Liaison Manager. As a Shell expatriate based in Texas, he was actively involved in test and specification development with ASTM. He has even spent six years as an engine oil formulator.
Following periods as a consultant and Programme Manager for SMMT, Brian has managed EV Regulatory Affairs for JLR for around five years, including four years working on the UN Working Group for EV Safety Global Technical Regulation.
Q: Could you briefly explain your role and involvement in electric vehicles and EV batteries?
Brian Lawrence: I manage hybrid and electric vehicle regulatory affairs for JLR, where around 80% of the effort involved is traction battery-related. This work includes:
- Regulatory intelligence gathering and dissemination
- Negotiation with and lobbying of international legislators
- Participation in relevant trade association (ACEA & OICA) stakeholder activities
- Developing and supporting internal processes to turn regulation content into engineering requirements
Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at International EV Batteries 2016?
BL: I am interested to learn about new near-to-market technologies that future legislation must accommodate, if they are to be successful.
Q: What is the number one challenge holding back electric vehicles in today's market?
BL: The main limitation is energy density of traction batteries; especially in regard to systems that will be compliant with safety regulations, emerging in some key markets.
Q: Where do you see the future of electric vehicles going over the next five to 10 years?
BL: It depends on the degree of joined-up thinking worldwide, between regulators responsible for lowering vehicular emission and those concerned with traction battery safety; currently there is a tendency for them to be pulling in opposite directions.
If the regulators can be persuaded towards a balanced approach and not to over-regulate (i.e. to focus on managing the risks instead of trying to eliminate them completely), then there is no reason market trajectories cannot be maintained or even accelerated.
Find out more
Brian Lawrence will be speaking at International EV Batteries 2016 on 6-7 December in London. The event will address the critical challenges being faced by electric vehicle OEMs globally. Attendees will take away the latest innovations in battery management, modular design, range extension, battery testing and pack integration.
Key programme highlights:
- General Motors will discuss the successes of the Chevrolet Bolt EV’s 60KwH battery system and lessons from the Volt and Spark
- Understand the opportunities and challenges Jaguar Land Rover see for modular battery designs
- Williams Advanced Engineering determine how F1 and Formula E battery development and evolution will impact electric vehicles
- McLaren Automotive and University of Oxford deliver the latest on charge and current control, and reductions in weight and size of the Battery Management System (BMS)
- Learn how the European Commission are assessing battery testing methods from a policy-making perspective
- Mitsubishi, NAATBatt and the University of Warwick WMG bring success stories for bidirectional charging, battery recycling and second-life options
For further information, visit the International EV Batteries 2016 event page.