Institution news
Ahead of International EV Batteries 2016, we spoke to Phil Whiffin, Chief Engineer, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Group and Advanced Research at JCB. Phil explains his role and involvement in electric vehicles and EV batteries, the number one challenge holding back electric vehicles in today’s current market and where he sees EVs in the next five to ten years, all from the perspective of an off-highway manufacturer.
Phil Whiffin: Chief Engineer, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Group and Advanced Research, JCB
Phil Whiffin joined Jaguar in 1990 from university, where he spent the next 22 years covering a wide range of subjects (power train control systems, vehicle launch, advanced research, safety critical systems, chassis systems, sustainable mobility and electrification). He is a strong advocate of using robust systems engineering approaches to deliver the right product well – introducing whole vehicle systems engineering to JLR. After a short spell delivering systems engineering in rail, Phil joined JCB in 2014 looking after electrical and electronic engineering including research.
Q: Could you briefly explain your role and involvement in electric vehicles and EV batteries?
Phil Whiffin: I am involved in JCB off-highway machines (our 'vehicles' are called machines, which I know is confusing in the electrical world), in charge of Group Electrical and Electronic engineering, which includes our research team. Part of this responsibility includes electrification.
Q: What are you most looking forward to by attending and presenting at International EV Batteries 2016?
PW: Seeing what we can learn from other sectors (on-highway) and transfer back across to our sector. And to network, of course.
Q: What is the number one challenge holding back electric vehicles in today's market?
PW: I can only talk about off-highway which is very much cost driven, so price is a critical issue. We need to be able to offer a machine with a very clear business case which needs to include the purchase price, the final second-hand sale value and the benefits during ownership. Second hand value is critical, as often second hand machines are sold into less advanced markets which do not want high technology.
Additionally, infrastructure is also an issue. Construction sites often have to bring their own infrastructure to site and a tanker of diesel is an easy option.
Q: Where do you see the future of electric vehicles going over the next five to ten years?
PW: In off highway the demand will grow based on two main factors:
- The drive to decrease CO2 written into large construction project contracts. This trickles down into the choice of construction machinery to deliver the lowest CO2 and avoid potentially large fines
- Local air quality (zero emissions locally?) and noise in inner city construction projects
Bear in mind that less than 50% of material handling machines (fork lift trucks) are already electric. The construction machine market is around 800,000 machines annually, so major opportunities exist here.
Find out more
Phil Whiffin 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.