Date: Friday, 29 March'19
Time: 12:30pm – 13:30pm
Venue: Z-1064, Z-Block, Level 10, Gibson Room Z-1064, QUT Gardens Point

Abstract
In 2007, Volker was part of a hand-picked team of ten engineers, tasked with “reshaping the future” to meet BMW’s new strategic objective to be “the leading provider of premium products and premium services for individual mobility”. Featured in that future, was the electric car, lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and, longer term, fuel-cell technology.
By 2009 the team had its first prototype to test, the MINI E. Just 600 were manufactured and delivered to selected customers. Trialled between 2009 and 2012, the MINI E showed an electric car could easily clear perceived hurdles such as charging time and driving range. People loved it. The BMW Active E, with a production run of 1000, was tested from 2011, before BMW finally launched the BMW i3 and then the BMW i8. BMW i3 was Wheels Car of the Year in 2014.
Cut to 2019, and BMW are introducing the BMW Vision iNEXT, an allelectric, highly automated vehicle. Volker will share his expertise on where BMW sees electric vehicles going and the technical challenges that need to be addressed in this space.

Biography

Dipl. Ing Volker Richter
Head of Total Vehicle Technology and Quality Management, BMW Group

Volker is passionate about cars and it shows. His in-depth automotive knowledge is the result of his long-time industry experience in a range of centres across BMW Group and his infectious enthusiasm for vehicles and technology
generally.
Volker is the Head of Total Vehicle Technology and Quality Management currently responsible for ramping up a plant in the Netherland including setting up a Quality Management System. He previously held the position of Vice President for Quality Management BMW Group and VP for managing Total Vehicle Architecture and Integration
within the BMW Research and Innovation Center (FIZ). He has broad experience as General Manager across a wide range of divisions in BMW both in Germany and the US, with responsibility for areas such as Strategy and Steering Pre-Development, Advanced Engineering, Advanced Engineering Product Concepts, Technical Projects, Product Engineering Interior Components and Analysis Centre / Total Vehicle Quality.
Volker holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Aachen and has subsequently also undertaken automotive-focused research at the University of Stuttgart and Harvard Business School in Boston.

RSVP
COB Wednesday 27 March 2019
Emailing Adriana at: a.bodnarova@qut.edu.au

Mohammadhossein Etesami

Secretary, IA/IE/PEL Jt. Chaper, IEEE Queensland Section

Secretary, PES Chapter, IEEE Queensland Section