Dr. Frank is the inventor of the modern Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). His seminal work at UC Davis is the direct source of the worldwide movement to Plug-In Hybrids. He is Founder and CTO of Efficient Drivetrains, in partnership with the University of California.

PHEVs deliver energy independence, and dramatic clean air and CO2 benefits. The IEEE voted the PHEV “The Number One Electric Power 21st Century Holy Grail Winner: The Smart Hybrid—A Big Technology Product that Will Make a Difference … A High Tech Dream that Will Come True in Your Lifetime.”

Dr. Frank is author of over 100 technical papers, and the subject of many feature articles and broadcast media pieces, including Scientific American, Newsweek, USA Today, Christian Science Monitor, Business Week, NYT, WSJ, The Economist, LA Times, NOVA, and more, and is an invited presenter at U.S. Congressional hearings, and national and international PHEV conferences.

Dr. Frank’s graduates are high-value engineers and managers at many major OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers.

Biography

BS (1955), MS (1958), Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley; PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California (1967).

(2006) Founder and CTO Efficient Drivetrains: Development of advanced technologies and strategies to dramatically displace petroleum fuels with cheaper, more environmentally friendly electricity and renewable energy. Efficient Drivetrains proprietary solutions and technologies have direct applications in PHEVs, Hybrids, and Electric Vehicles, in nearly all platform classes and configurations, as well as conventional vehicles. Efficient Drivetrains holds the basic, fundamental patents that define the PHEV field.

(1985 - Present) Senior Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis: Development of super-fuel-efficient vehicles; established UC Davis Institute for Transportation Studies (ITS); Director, DOE National Center of Hybrid Excellence at UC Davis; Frequent winner of DOE / USCAR “Future Car” and “Future Truck” competitions. Built nine PHEV platforms, including 6-passenger, 62 mpg sedans (Taurus and Sable), full- and mid-size SUVs (6,000 lb. Chevy Suburban with 60 miles all-electric range, 28 mpg on liquid fuel), and 80 mpg sports cars. Won world records in super-fuel-efficiency, achieving 3300 mpg with ultra-light concept vehicles. PHEV funding provided by DARPA, DOE, DOD, CARB, CEC, SCAQMD, University of California, SMUD, EPRI, and major automotive OEMs, and Tier 1 suppliers. GM chose Dr. Frank to create its first PHEV, in 1998. Filed 20 patents on automotive systems and 9 patents on Hybrid electric drive systems for automobiles.

(1967 – 85) Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin: Invented Ultra-high fuel efficiency (100+ mpg objective) advanced transportation systems, such as the Power Split Hybrid Electric system developed in 1972; invented and developed Flywheel/CVT Drive Hybrids, and Hydraulic Accumulator Hybrids.

(1955 – 67) North American Rockwell Aerospace: Senior Engineer, Minuteman, Apollo, and H-19 Helicopter Programs; Patents filed on Helicopter stability systems.