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Brett D. Williams
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Brett D. Williams, BA, MPhil (cantab), Business Development Certificate, PhD
Institute of Transportation Studies
University of California at Davis
Davis CA 95616 USA
+1 (530) 220-2616
http://hydrogen.its.ucdavis.edu/people/bwilliams
Curriculum vitae: CV
Recent publications:
Commercializing light-duty plug-in/plug-out hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles: ''Mobile Electricity'' technologies and opportunities (Journal of Power Sources, keywords: Hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicle; Plug-in hybrid; Plug-out hybrid; Mobile Electricity innovation; Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power; Vehicular distributed generation)
Recent presentation about my "Mobile Electricity" model, including vehicular distributed generation:
PH2FCV Adoption In California: Mobile Energy Innovation, Early Markets, & Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Power
STEPs/Hydrogen Pathways Research Interests
Creating innovative value with hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles. While the potential of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles (H2FCVs) to provide various benefits (e.g., reduced emissions) has been described in detail, it is often considered difficult to justify the private investment necessary to achieve these social benefits. This conundrum is particularly acute in private-vehicle markets where FCVs can justifiably be seen as expensive and inferior relative to today's cars and trucks. Accordingly, the commercialization pathways for H2 as a transportation fuel are unclear.
As part of UC Davis' Hydrogen Pathways program, Brett focuses on how FCVs and other electric-drive vehicles, such as plug-in hybrids, might become valued in the marketplace. Two major approaches are: 1) strategic niche marketing and 2) creating innovative value, often from unique product-attribute/service combinations.
One set of promising opportunities, which I collectively call "Mobile Energy" innovation, connects vehicles, (whether ICE-hybrid or fuel-cell) to other energy systems in non-conventional ways. Mobile Energy innovations include home recharging/refueling, powering tools/appliances/gadgets, providing emergency power, and using parked vehicles to support the complex operation of the electrical grid (so-called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) power). Although these innovations present major technical and economic challanges, creating markets for Mobile Energy could provide private value that would help drive the adoption of FCVs as they mature.
Broader Research Interests
Brett has also studied regional air-quality and global climate-change issues from a mixed science and policy perspective, highlighting the difficulty of addressing complex problems shrouded by uncertainty.
Research Deliverables
| Type | Description | Date | |
| PhD Dissertation |
Commercializing Light-Duty Plug-In/Plug-Out Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles: “Mobile Electricity” Technologies, Early California Household Markets, and Innovation Management | 9 February 2006 |
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| Presentation: Hydrogen Pathways Workshop |
PH2FCV Adoption In California: Mobile Energy Innovation, Early Markets, & Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Power | September 2006 |
|
| Extended Abstract: Fuel Cell Seminar 2006 |
Commercializing plug-in hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles: early California household market characterization and “Mobile Energy” innovation |
August 2006 |
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| Poster: H2P Advisory Board Meeting |
The early California household market for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, plug-in hybrids, & other “Mobile Energy” innovations |
July 2006 |
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| Presentation: NHA's 17th Annual U.S. Hydrogen Conference |
H2FCV Adoption in California: Mobile Energy Innovation, Early Markets |
March 2006 |
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| Poster: UCTC Conference |
The early California household market for hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles, plug-in hybrids, & other “Mobile Energy” innovations |
February 2006 |
|
| Publication: Journal of Power Sources |
Estimating the early household market for light-duty hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles and other “Mobile Energy” innovations in California: A constraints analysis | Submitted 30 Nov 2005, Accepted 23 Dec, published Sep 2006 |
|
| Presentation: 2005 Fuel Cell Seminar |
The Early Household Market for Light-Duty Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell Vehicles in California |
November 2005 |
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| Poster: 2005 Grove Fuel Cell Symposium |
"Mobile Energy" innovation and the early household market for light-duty hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in California |
October 2005 |
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| Presentation: NHA’s 15th Annual U.S. Hydrogen Conference | Innovative Drivers for Hydrogen-Fuel-Cell-Vehicle Commercialization: Establishing Vehicle-to-Grid Markets |
29 April 2004 |
Summary
As a speaker, researcher, and adviser with training from universities
in the U.S. and U.K. and a mixed science/technology and policy
perspective, Brett Williams has worked on teams with leading companies
in the U.S. and Europe to accelerate the wide, rapid, and responsible
commercialization of fuel cells, alternative fuels, and
high-performance vehicle concepts.
Education
PhD, Transportation Technology & Policy, University of California at Davis. Brett's dissertation, Commercializing light-duty plug-in/plug-out hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles: "Mobile Electricity" technologies, early California household markets, and innovation management, examines the commercialization of electric-drive vehicles from an interdisciplinary perspective. It includes spreadsheet modeling of innovative vehicle performance/costs/benefits (including “vehicle-to-grid" or V2G power), statistical analysis of Census data, and a discussion of plug-in/plug-out hybrid product and market development.
While pursuing his degree, Brett was selected as an Eno Transportation Foundation Leadership Fellow (Washington DC, 21–25 May 2001), a Business Development Fellow, a University of California Transportation Center Fellow, and a U.S. DOE GATE Fellow. He also ran a focus-group session and survey of government, university and utility fleet managers; participated in the Hydrogen Pathways research initiative; and presented hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicle and marketing research to academic seminars, corporate and government visitors, the media, and as outreach to the public.
Business Development Certificate, Graduate School of Management, University of California at Davis, 2005. Brett was selected as one of nine students in the inaugural year of the Business Development Certificate program, wherein engineering and science PhD students are trained alongside MBA students in entrepreneurialism, market research, innovation, and technology management (http://entrepreneurship.ucdavis.edu/programs_certificate.html). As part of the program Brett also received media training, incubated ideas in a business development clinic, presented to successful business leaders, entrepreneurs, and venture capitalists, and was invited by the UCD Vice Chancellor of Research to participate in the campus’s External Research Advisory Board meeting.MPhil, Environment & Development, Cambridge University (UK), 1995.
Brett earned an MPhil from Cambridge University in Environment &
Development with a First-equivalent thesis that compared
petroleum-based and hydrogen-fuel-cell-based transportation. Other
graduate research included the impacts of energy use, global climate
systems, transport and land-use, international environmental policy,
aquatic pollution, sustainable development, and the implications of
scientific uncertainty for policymaking.
BA, Physics/Public Policy Analysis, Pomona College, 1994.
Brett received a BA in Physics/Public Policy Analysis (self-designed)
from Pomona College with a thesis (passed with Distinction) that
analyzed a southern California clean-fuels program. While at Pomona, he
received the Senior Service Award, NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, and
Honnold Scholarship and was an intern at California’s South Coast Air
Quality Management District.
Experience
Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis; Instructor; Spring Quarter 2003: Brett developed the curriculum for, and taught, a core TTP introductory technology course.
California Fuel Cell Partnership: Brett works on a limited basis at the Ford office of the California Fuel Cell Partnership in West Sacramento.
IQPC's F-Cell Infrastructure Conference: Brett chaired IQPC's F-Cell Infrastructure Conference (San Diego CA, 29–30 November 2000).
Rocky Mountain Institute; Senior Research Associate; December 1995–August 2000: Brett Williams was RMI’s principal analyst of fuel-cell and alternative-fuel technology and infrastructure. While at RMI, Brett:
- helped to create and spin-off Hypercar, Inc. (now FiberForge), a provider of lightweight, efficient automotive design solutions, where he served as pre-spin off VP of Environment & Policy;
- co-authored "Speeding the Transition: Designing a Fuel-Cell Hypercar™" and "A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition" for the National Hydrogen Association’s 1997 and 1999 Annual U.S. Hydrogen Meetings;
- was part of a team that consulted for automotive, electronics, and energy firms (including the founders of Shell Hydrogen) and advised government agencies in the U.S. and Europe;
- was a member of the U.S. delegation to the 1999 G8 Environmental Futures Summit;
- and, contributed to features for radio and for other media such as Wired and E magazines and ABCNews.com.
Activities and Interests
Brett has also been a volunteer firefighter & EMT Intermediate, acted in several plays (including playing Henry V for Sacramento’s
Shakespeare Festival), snowboards, holds all-time pole-vaulting records
at two universities, and clings to some Spanish and basic Japanese.
Markets and Demand: Hydrogen Storage
Reid (Rusty) Heffner