The MI Energy Forum meets next Thursday, March 3rd in Ann Arbor at 5:30 and hear a presentation on Electric Vehicles. Have you ever considered purchasing an electric vehicle? Want to find out what all the hype is about? Join us for an evening of information and updates on the rollout of electric vehicles in Michigan and the United States.
Register and learn more here.
We will discuss:
- Market forecasts and trends in consumer demand
- Public charging stations installed in the Ann Arbor Area
- Steps the State of Michigan and Ann Arbor are taking to prepare for electric vehicles
- The rollout of the Chevy Volt in Michigan and in other states
- What other electric vehicle manufacturers are doing in Michigan
- How electric vehicles impact the electric grid and what DTE and other utilities are doing to prepare for electric vehicles
- What you need to do to install a charger in your home
We are also hoping to have a Chevy Volt on site for you to check out!
Our March guests include:
- Kristen Zimmerman, Chevrolet Volt Program
- Joe Malcoun, Detroit Edison
- Lisa Warshaw, Ann Arbor Clean Cities Campaign Coordinator
- Brett Smith, Center for Automotive Research
- Don Graunstadt, CEO of Detroit Electric
About the Panelists:
Kristen Zimmerman, General Motors
Kristin B. Zimmerman, PhD
Manager-Advanced Technology Infrastructure
General Motors Research and Development Center
Dr. Zimmerman’s current assignment is on the Chevy Volt Team working with a broad group of internal and external stakeholders (utilities, state, local and federal government, communities) to facilitate ‘Plug-in Readiness’ for GM’s Chevy Volt Launch markets. She continues to work on issues concerning Energy and Global Climate policy development and reporting practices and is GM’s program manager of the GM/The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Atlantic Rainforest Project in Brazil.
Kristin has received B.S, M.S. and PhD in Engineering Mechanics from Michigan State University.
Joe Malcoun, Detroit Edison
Joe is currently an Associate with DTE Energy’s Strategy and Corporate Development team where he is responsible for developing and managing the execution of company-wide growth initiatives. Most recently, he has focused his time on advancing many of DTE’s electric vehicle initiatives, playing a key role in positioning Detroit Edison as a leading utility in plug-in electric vehicle preparedness. Joe was one of DTE’s representatives on the MI Public Service Commissions EV Readiness Task Force.
Prior to business school, Joe was an Associate with GreenOrder, a sustainability focused management consulting firm, where he managed projects for clients that included General Electric, General Motors and Henkel. Most notably, Joe was a member of the core team that developed and executed GE’s ecomagination initiative.
Joe holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business where he was President of the Ross Energy Club and a founding member of the Wolverine Venture Fund’s Cleantech Team. He also earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Environmental Policy from Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment.
Lisa Warshaw, Ann Arbor Clean Cities Coalition
Lisa Warshaw is a Project Manager for the Clean Energy Coalition where she manages the Ann Arbor Clean Cities Coalition and jointly oversees the implementation of the $40 million Michigan Green Fleets project. Among other things, Lisa is currently working with local partners to put together an EV readiness plan for the City of Ann Arbor. Recently, Lisa was honored by the U.S. Department of Energy as a “Rising Star” in the Midwest region for the national Clean Cities network. Having worked for non-profit organizations in Central America, Southeast Asia, and throughout the United States, Lisa has expertise in a variety of environmental issues including alternative fuels, emissions reductions, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
Brett C. Smith, Center for Automotive Research
Brett C. Smith is the Co-Director, Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Group at the Center for Automotive Research. He joined CAR in 2000 after 12 years at the University of Michigan’s Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT).
Current activities include several projects on Plug-in electric hybrid vehicles, including a recent report for the DOE entitled Benefits and Challenges of Achieving a Mainstream Market for Electric Vehicles, and the NextEnergy-CAR PEV working Group.
He is the chair of the Advanced Powertrain Forum at the CAR management Briefing Seminar (2004-current), and the Chair of the Business of Plugging In Conference in Detroit, Mi.
Much of Mr. Smith’s other work in recent years has been in the area of advanced powertrain technology. He has authored several reports on this the subject, including Positioning the State of Michigan as a Leading Candidate for Fuel Cell and Alternative Powertrain Manufacturing, a report prepared for the Michigan Automotive Partnership and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). He received a B.S. in economics and an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University.
Don Graunstadt – CEO, Detroit Electric, LLC
Mr. Graunstadt was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After serving 4 years in the US Navy (Jan ’72 – Dec ’75) he attended the University of Michigan-Dearborn, graduating in 1979 with an Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He was also matriculated at the University Of Michigan Graduate School Of Business in Dearborn.
He began his technical career while still a student building experimental medical lasers at the Sinai Hospital Laser Laboratory in Detroit, Michigan. In October of 2002, he brought a track-record for turning around struggling technical businesses to the position as President and CEO of Lotus Engineering, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Group Lotus Engineering. At Lotus Engineering, Mr. Graunstadt provided the leadership and vision that took the company from a history of losses to a position as the most profitable division in the company and a top competitor in the industry. He served on the Advisory Board for the 630-acre Advanced Vehicle Research Center of North Carolina during its first year of inception. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and North Carolina State Center for Automotive Studies.
