Van Wifvat

Dr. Van Wifvat is an Adjunct Engineering Faculty at both Iron Range Engineering and Normandale Community College. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saint Thomas in 2013, and completed both his M.S. (2016) and Ph.D. (2019) in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine in the Advanced Power and Energy Program. His dissertation focused on zero-emission shared-use autonomous vehicles and their associated impacts on the energy grid and environment. His professional background includes engineering experience at Toyota Motors North America and 3M Company, consulting experience which helped clients receive and manage millions of dollars in grant funding, as well as science policy experience as a staffer in the California State Legislature.

Degrees

• BS in Mechanical Engineering from University of Saint Thomas
• MS in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Irvine
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of California, Irvine

Research Interests

• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Transportation
• Environmental Impacts
• Engineering Education

Selected Journal Publications

• Asher, Z., Wifvat, V., Patil, A., Bradley, T., Samuelsen, S., Frank, A., (2019), “Identification and review of the research gaps preventing a realization of optimal energy management strategies in vehicles”, SAE International Journal of Alternative Powertrains, DOI: 10.4271/08-08-02-0009
• Wifvat, V., Shaffer, B., and Samuelsen, S. (2018), “A Review of Sensor Technologies for Automotive Fuel Economy Benefits”, SAE International Journal of Connected and Automated Vehicles. DOI: 10.4271/12-02-01-0001
• Tarroja B., Zhang, L., Wifvat, V., Shaffer, B., Samuelsen, S. (2016), “Assessing the Stationary Energy Storage Equivalency of Vehicle-to-Grid Charging Battery Electric Vehicles”, Energy, DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.03.094

Selected Conference Paper and Abstract

• Wifvat, V., Shaffer, B., and Samuelsen, S. (2018), “A Planning Tool to Assess Advanced Vehicle Sensor Technologies on Traffic Flow, Fuel Economy, and Emissions”, SAE WCX: World Congress Experience 2018, Detroit, MI, DOI: 10.4271/2018-01-1100
• Asher, Z., Wifvat, V., Navarro, A., Samuelsen, S., Bradley, T. (2017), “The Importance of HEV Fuel Economy and Two Research Gaps Preventing Real World Implementation of Optimal Energy Management”, SAE Symposium on International Automotive Technology 2017 Proceedings, Maharashtra, India, DOI: 10.4271/2017-26-0106
• Nevala, S., Wifvat, V. Johnson, S., Wentz, J. (2012), “Relative Effects of Cooling and Lubrication in Micro-Milling of Aluminum and the Design of Atomization Cooling and Lubrication Systems”, ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 2012 Proceedings, Houston, TX, DOI: 10.1115/IMECE2012-87825

Awards & Fellowships

• 2019 Finalist: California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) Policy Fellowship
• 2019 Nominated: Mechanical and Aerospace Engr. Graduate Student of the Year
• 2018 Outstanding Oral Presentation Award, Society of Automotive Engineers
• 2016 Association of Energy Engineers Scholarship, AEE Southern California
• 2015 Association of Energy Engineers Scholarship, AEE Southern California