Kevin Bennion is a member of the advanced power electronics and electric machines group in NREL’s Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences. He leads research projects with the U.S. Department of Energy and industry focused on the thermal management of power electronics and electric motors. He has also supported research projects related to vehicle thermal management and vehicle systems analysis. His areas of expertise include electric motor thermal management; power electronics thermal management; electric-drive components; vehicle thermal management; and vehicle simulation, data analysis, system design. Previously, he worked for five years at Ford Motor Company.

Research Interests

Power electronics and electric machines

Simulation models for powertrain controls

Vehicle drive cycle analysis

Electric vehicle fast charging

Hardware-in-the-loop testing

Transportation research

Education

M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University

Associations and Memberships

Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Member, SAE International

Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Featured Work

Experimental Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Contact Resistance of Electric Machine Stator-to-Cooling Jacket Interface Under Interference Fit Loading, Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications (2018)

Electrical Motor Thermal Management, Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (2018)

Thermal Management and Reliability of Automotive Power Electronics and Electric Machines, Electronics Packaging Symposium and Workshop (2017)

Electric Motor Thermal Management Research: Annual Progress Report, NREL Management Report (2017)

Wide Bandgap Technology Enhances Performance of Electric-Drive Vehicles, NREL Science and Technology Highlights (2017)

Anisotropic Thermal Response of Packed Copper Wire, Journal of Thermal Science and Engineering Applications (2016)

Electric Motor Thermal Management, Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (2017)

View all NREL publications for Kevin Bennion.

Awards and Honors

U.S. Department of Energy Special Recognition Award, Motor Thermal Management (2016)