Innovating Sustainable Transportation: Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara's Insights on Electric and Hydrogen Propulsion
Key Ideas
- Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara shares his extensive experience in electric and hybrid propulsion systems gained from his career at General Motors and Rolls-Royce.
- He highlights the potential of hydrogen fuel cells for heavy-duty vehicles and aviation applications, emphasizing advantages like quicker refueling and lighter weight for larger distances.
- Dr. Rajashekara acknowledges the challenges in hydrogen adoption, particularly in passenger vehicle markets, citing slow progress due to high costs and lack of refueling stations.
- Despite the obstacles, he remains optimistic about hydrogen's role in sustainable transportation and its ability to reduce power generation emissions while enhancing energy efficiency.
NewHydrogen, Inc., a developer of ThermoLoop™ technology for producing green hydrogen, featured a podcast with CEO Steve Hill and Dr. Kaushik Rajashekara, a Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Houston. Dr. Rajashekara shared insights from his career, including his work at General Motors on electric vehicles and fuel cell technology, as well as his contributions at Rolls-Royce focusing on power generation with solid oxide fuel cells. He discussed the challenges in hydrogen adoption, particularly the 'chicken and egg' problem of infrastructure versus vehicle availability. Dr. Rajashekara emphasized the suitability of hydrogen for heavy-duty vehicles and aviation, noting advantages over batteries in terms of refueling speed and weight. Despite obstacles in passenger vehicle markets, he expressed confidence in hydrogen's role in sustainable transportation and its potential to reduce emissions and enhance energy efficiency.