Vernon Newhouse has been an innovator with General Motors since 2005, developing the technology necessary to create alternative propulsion vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV. Newhouse recently talked with GM’s Fastlane blog in regards to what being a Chevrolet Volt engineer entails ahead of the next-generation model’s reveal next month.
Newhouse is currently the owner of six patents pertaining the extended range EVs, along with other members of GM’s Global Product Development team. He says the patents “cover many aspects of these vehicles including battery charging methods and determining approaches to measure driver and vehicle efficiency in a hybrid vehicle.”
Being passionate about green technology since he was in college, Newhouse is happy to be on the team responsible for producing an eco-friendly car like the Volt. He says the Volt engineers are” a highly skilled and inquisitive,” group who have “discovered considerable opportunities for innovation,” in working on the car and patents related to its development.
“These patents demonstrate our team’s attitude and mindset to continually improve and explore alternative energy solutions,” Newhouse explained. “As the engineering business manager, I am continually working to find ways to do things more effectively and efficiently and to make sure that our team has the data that will enable us to make critical business decisions.”
Newhouse says he’s most proud of his development of GM’s preliminary plug-in charging controls algorithm for use in its EREVs, but feels rewarded every time he sees a Volt out on the road knowing he helped make the car a reality. Newhouse has likely been busy developing the next-generation Volt slated for a debut in Detroit next month, and advises us that the current car is “only the beginning.”
No Comments yet