Powertrain - Tech Blog
GM's Stephens to retire after 43-year career
General Motors Vice Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Tom Stephens has elected to retire effective April 1, after a 43-year engineering career with the automaker. As CTO, Stephens led the company’s product technology arm, working to identify and develop advanced technologies while building closer relationships with external and internal technology partners. His successor will be named later. Stephens, 63, served in a number of positions at GM, including Vice Chairman, Global Product Operations; and Executive Vice President, Global Powertrain and Global Quality. He began his GM career in 1969 as an hourly employee at the Chevrolet Engineering Center in Warren, MI, under the University of Michigan Student Co-op Program. An "engine guy" to the core, Stephens' career highlights include leading the development of the Cadillac Northstar V8, GM’s premier DOHC performance engine. He also spearheaded the creation of GM’s advanced propulsion technology strategy, which guided the company’s development of a wide range of advanced engine technologies, hybrid vehicles, and the Chevrolet Volt. Stephens was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 for his contributions to powertrain engineering.
;)
Tom Stephens was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2007 for his contributions to powertrain engineering.
SDCmaterials begins field trials for emission control catalysts
SDCmaterials, a Tempe, AZ-based developer of advanced high-performance catalyst materials, has commenced field trials for its Nano-Nano-Micron (NNm) emission control catalyst product. As part of this final phase of pre-production testing, the company’s NNm product will be deployed as the active catalyst ingredient within a critical exhaust system component used on municipal transit buses. This is a joint project between SDCmaterials Inc. and a major European exhaust gas aftertreatment and systems company. The exhaust system components targeted in these field trials rely on high-cost platinum group metals (PGM) to oxidize soot and convert CO and HC into CO2 and water. SDC’s catalysts are produced using a proprietary process that results in a unique nano-scale PGM structure. “The cost and performance benefits of our NNm emission control catalysts have been proven in synthetic gas and vehicle drive-cycle tests with multiple OEMs in various light-duty and heavy-duty emissions control applications,” said Maximilian Biberger, CEO of SDCmaterials Inc. The company has production facilities in Schwarzheide, Germany.
;)
SDCmaterials’ Nano-Nano-Micron catalyst material is said to “substantially reduce” the amount of platinum group metals required to meet stringent emissions control requirements.
Continental and SK Innovation team on lithium-ion batteries
As part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, officials of SK Innovation and Continental Corp. on Jan. 10 signed an agreement to form a joint venture in lithium-ion batteries. The JV will develop, manufacture, and market the batteries globally. SK will supply Li-ion cells to the JV while Continental will supply battery-management electronics and its overall automotive systems competence. SK Innovation will have 51% ownership, Continental 49%. Initial operations will be based in Germany and Korea. The management team will be composed of executives from both companies, and the JV is subject to the completion of additional agreements, which are expected to be achieved by mid-2012.
;)
A worker performs cell testing at SK Innovation.
Pratt & Whitney secures contract for F135 engine production
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded Pratt & Whitney a contract not to exceed $1.12 billion for F135 production engines to power the F-35 Lightning II. P&W and the DOD reached a tentative agreement on key terms for the low rate initial production (LRIP) 5 contract that contains fixed-price and cost-plus incentive fee elements. A total of $358.6 million is being obligated at time of award, in addition to the $138.8 million obligated in 2011 for advanced acquisition materials. This LRIP contract includes production engines, spare parts, program management, engineering support for production, sustainment, and field support for the F135 engines. The engines in LRIP 5 will support the U.S. Services with main engine deliveries slated to begin in late 2012.
;)
The fifth lot of engines includes 21 conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) engines for the U.S. Air Force; six carrier variant (CV) engines for the U.S. Navy; and three short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) propulsion systems (shown) for the U.S. Marine Corps.
- Share:
