Expert Details
Batteries: Testing, Research, Consulting, and Litigation
ID: 733828
Colorado, USA
Expert understands the materials inside batteries and their design -- and how those components relate to battery performance and safety. His thought leadership covers lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, ultracapacitors, and other electrochemical energy storage systems. He is the author of three battery related patents. In 2017, he started his own technology LLC, where he utilizes laboratory battery testing capabilities and specializes in custom testing of both battery cells and modules.
He conducts expert witness work, including forensic battery exams of battery fires and explosions -- both lithium batteries and lead batteries. He also undertakes consulting and expert witness work in the areas of battery intellectual property and patents. He possesses particular knowledge in the areas of battery management systems and charging algorithms.
Advanced Skills:
Superior research leadership, product development and project management capabilities.
Outstanding proposal, technical report, and paper writing skills.
Extremely resourceful, can operate within a limited budget. Sound understanding of business management.
Efficient laboratory management, including compliance with all government regulations.
Highly computer proficient including Excel macro programming, multi-variant statistics, neural network modeling and data reduction.
Superb organization skills, time management and work ethic (always a team player).
He has accrued extensive experience with lead-acid batteries in both R&D and manufacturing. He is also an expert in carbons for lead-acid batteries for high-rate partial state of charge operation.
Expert provides a depth of knowledge in large pack battery systems and battery management systems. He is the designer of multiple BMS and is the developer of artificial intelligent battery models.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1987 | Degree: Ph.D. | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: University of Colorado Boulder |
| Year: 1984 | Degree: Masters of Science | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: University of Colorado Boulder |
| Year: 1979 | Degree: Bachelors | Subject: Chemistry | Institution: The Johns Hopkins University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: President and Founder | Department: |
Responsibilities:In his role as President and Founder of his battery consulting firm, Expert focuses on battery investigations to support legal, safety or performance needs. Services include standardized testing and engineering but extend far beyond these fields -- customizing laboratory offerings for clients.Expert's firm also provides expert witness services for lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, and other forms of energy storage. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2007 to 2016 | Employer: TDA Research | Title: Senior Chemist | Department: |
Responsibilities:In his role as Senior Chemist, Expert explored advanced materials technology for battery and ultracapacitor applications. In this capacity, he: Conducted advancing modeling algorithms based on neura networks for battery management systems, Evaluated TDA’s low cost, engineered pore size activated carbons for ultracapacitors. Invented new redox couples for flow batteries Demonstrated success of activated carbons as cathode matrix for secondary LiS batteries Developing hybrid ultracapacitor/battery designs Principle investigator for eight Phase I projects and one Phase II SBIR project |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2001 to 2007 | Employer: Boundless Corporation | Title: Vice President | Department: |
Responsibilities:In his VP role, Expert served the corporation as leader of battery research laboratory and technical operations. Technologies included: large format lithium-ion batteries and battery management; and materials for lithium-ion batteries such as high porosity separator and nano-scale cathode material. He: Was principle investigator for four Phase II and nine Phase I SBIR projects, as well as other private research contracts Created novel lithium-ion battery state of health algorithms based on impedance techniques Invented and reduced to practice structural lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors based on carbon fiber fabrics for aerospace battery applications Was awarded one patent for a finish charge device for VRLA batteries |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 2001 | Employer: Optima Batteries | Title: Manager of Technical Research / Senior Electrochemist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert conducted research on high-power spiral wound lead-acid batteries. He was technical advisor to upper management. He was also manager of chemical, testing and prototyping labs. During this time, he: Brought Optima ‘Yellow Top’ deep cycle battery from lab to commercialization Developed fast prototyping of 36 V battery prototypes for automotive use, which led to the acquisition of Optima by JCI Served as lead for activities within an Army-funded research consortium to develop ‘smart’ VRLA batteries Managed technical activities for a three year DOE/GM program to develop high power hybrid electric vehicle batteries Produced a prototype lead-acid battery with over 600 W/kg power capabilities Created a novel charging algorithm recognized in the industry and adopted by several charger manufacturers Invented a novel positive paste additive resulting in a doubling of cycle life Was issued two U.S. patents |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1993 | Employer: Eltron Research, Boulder | Title: Senior Electrochemist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert managed two Phase II SBIR projects (DOE, NSF) involving the development of mixed conducting ceramic catalyst membranes for the decomposition of NOx in diesel exhaust -- and for the oxidative coupling of methane to higher-value compounds, like ethane. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1989 to 1992 | Employer: Unichem International | Title: Senior Research Chemist/ Laboratory Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:As key member of start-up effort to introduce novel oil production scale inhibitor product to U.S. markets, Expert managed analytical chemistry laboratory, performed custom formulations, managed toll blending, and provided technical marketing to major oil companies.Among other achievements during this time, Expert formulated a polyelectrolytic scale inhibitor to precipitate at down hole temperatures during well fracturing treatments for BP at Prudhoe Bay, AK. Results included over $2 million in sales for 1991. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1987 to 1988 | Employer: Texas A&M University | Title: Research Associate (Post-doc) | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert conducted research on electrically conductive polymers using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.He also supervised 12 graduate students. |
|||
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1979 to 1981 | Employer: Colorado Interstate Gas | Title: Plant Chemist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert managed an analytical laboratory with one technician supporting natural gas sweetening plant operations.In this role, he created an innovative corrosion-monitoring program based on analysis of dissolved iron in process fluids by AA resulting in significant savings in maintenance operations. |
|||
Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2001 to 2016 | Agency: DOD, DOE, NASA | Role: SBIR Principal Investigator | Description: Expert served three U.S. government branches, including NASA and the Department of Defense, as a principal investigator for Phase I and Phase II SBIR research projects all involving batteries. |
Career Accomplishments
| Associations / Societies |
|---|
| Electrochemical Society American Chemical Society Denver Electric Vehicle Council |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Expert has published dozens of battery papers. He has three patents. |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| As a consultant to a forensics company (not as an Expert Witness), all on the plaintiffs' side, Expert has contributed to four cases regarding li-ion battery fires. As an Expert Witness, his technology LLC has aided in seven cases, one with two components, all dealing with Li-ion battery fires or with Lead-acid batteries (e.g., explosion, thermal runaway, and facilities and industrial issues). |
Fields of Expertise
lithium-ion battery, battery failure, lithium battery accident investigation, lithium battery testing, lead-acid battery, battery explosion, automobile battery, advanced battery, lead-acid battery research and development, battery monitoring system, battery management system, computerized battery monitoring system, aerospace battery, air-depolarized battery, artificial cardiac pacemaker battery, alkaline battery, alkaline battery separator, Automotive Li-Ion Battery Packs, battery application, automobile battery recycling, battery charger, battery degradation, battery engineering, battery industry, battery measurement, battery recycling, battery reliability, battery sensor, battery storage, battery technology, battery tester, electric battery, electric battery assembly, electric battery material, electric battery material selection, electric battery material testing, electric battery metal selection, electric battery shelf life, electric battery testing, energy-efficient battery energy storage, ferroresonant battery charger, high-rate battery, implantable defibrillator battery, lead-acid battery recycling, lead-acid battery separator, Li-Ion Battery Recycling, Li-Ion Batteries, liquid cathode system lithium primary battery, lithium battery, lithium, lithium battery safety, rechargeable lithium battery, lithium polymer battery, lithium ion batteries, load-leveling battery, low-temperature battery, maintenance-free battery, microporous plastic battery separator, nickel-cadmium battery, nickel-cadmium battery recycling, nickel-metal hydride battery, primary battery, reserve battery, seawater battery, silver-zinc battery, silicon-controlled rectifier battery charger, smart battery charger, sodium-sulfur battery, solid cathode system lithium primary battery, solid-electrolyte battery, solid-state battery, storage battery, switch-mode battery charger, water-activated battery, zinc-air battery