FUTURE AUTOMOBILE FUELS: FILL UP OR PLUG IN?

Thursday, December 3, 2009
4:00 p.m.
107 Hesburgh Library Auditorium

Michael J. Desmond
Distinguished Advisor, Conversion Technology
BP America, Inc.

BP Research and Technology recently completed an update of their Long Term Technology Strategy with a focus on the transportation.  

Concerns about climate change and energy supply security are likely to shape both government transportation policy and vehicle/fuel research and development.  These concerns don’t always collide as renewable fuels, and electric vehicles are being proposed as attractive options to address both climate change and supply security. The presentation will suggest how vehicles and fuels may evolve over the next 20+ years, and which combinations make the most sense from a timing and cost/benefit perspective.

Mike Desmond is the distinguished advisor within BP Refining and Marketing, Research and Technology.  He is involved with helping develop BP’s technology program for converting unconventional feeds to liquid fuels and chemicals.  An inventor on over 20 patents, during a 29 year career with BP, he has held a number of technology and commercial management roles.  Dr. Desmond has a BS in Chemistry from the University of Notre Dame, a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from John Carroll University.