Racing Toward Zero

The Future is Eclectic

“With transportation at a crisis point, this book offers an insightful and realistic take on achieving sustainable mobility.”
–Professor John Heywood, MIT

"This is a must-read book for all people interested in the power system technology that will be in future passenger car vehicles!"
–Dr. John Johnson, Presidential Professor Emeritus, Michigan Technological University

In Racing Toward Zero,

The authors explore the issues inherent in developing sustainable transportation. They review the types of propulsion systems and vehicle options, discuss low-carbon fuels and alternative energy sources, and examine the role of regulation in curbing emissions.

All technologies have an impact on the environment, from internal combustion engine vehicles to battery electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and hybrids—there is no silver bullet. The battery electric vehicle may seem the obvious path to a sustainable, carbon-free transportation future, but it’s not the only, nor necessarily the best, path forward. The vast majority of vehicles today use the internal combustion engine (ICE), and this is unlikely to change anytime soon. Improving the ICE and its fuels—entering a new ICE age—must be a main route on the road to zero emissions.

How do we go green? The future requires a balanced approach to transportation. It’s not a matter of choosing between combustion or electrification; it’s combustion and electrification. As the authors say, “The future is eclectic.” By harnessing the best qualities of both technologies, we will be in the best position to address our transportation future as quickly as possible.

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The Authors

Kelly Senecal

Kelly Senecal is a co-founder and owner of Convergent Science, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a co-founder and director of the Computational Chemistry Consortium (C3), and an associate editor of the journal Transportation Engineering. He is one of the original developers of CONVERGE, an industry-leading CFD solver. Kelly is a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), a member of the executive committee of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) ICE Division, a member of the board of advisors for the Central States Section of the Combustion Institute, and the 2019 recipient of the ASME Internal Combustion Engine Award.

Kelly has long been an advocate of creating cleaner combustion engines as part of a diverse mix of propulsion system technologies. He speaks to audiences around the globe about the importance of reducing the environmental impact of propulsion systems considering a holistic view, including life-cycle analysis, impact on consumers, and more. Starting with his TEDx talk in late 2016, he has been promoting #HugYourEngine and #TheFutureIsEclectic through articles, social media, and in his podcast, The Eclectic Highway.

Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Lawrence University and a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn

Felix Leach

Felix Leach is an Associate Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, a post held jointly with that of Fellow and Tutor in Engineering Science at Keble College. His research interests are in emissions and efficiency of thermal propulsion systems and air quality. He has focused particularly on particulate emissions from gasoline direct injection engines and developing a fundamental understanding of NOx emissions from diesel engines. He spent over a decade working in close collaboration with industry using world-leading measurement capabilities to help develop a clean engine for the 21st century.

In addition to his work on thermal propulsion systems, Felix engages significantly with public policy on emissions from vehicles and their interaction with air quality. He has led projects with Oxford City Council and Oxford Bus Company measuring emissions from in-service buses. He also leads projects measuring and understanding air quality in Oxford and the impact of various vehicle restrictions on air quality. Felix founded the annual Oxford Air Quality Meeting which draws together experts in vehicle emissions, air quality measurement, public health, and policy.

Felix holds MEng and DPhil degrees in engineering science from the University of Oxford and is a Chartered Engineer and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Connect with Felix on LinkedIn

As heard (seen, and read) on…

Path to Zero - Part 1

Two experts on automotive engineering join Tucker to share a realistic take on achieving sustainable mobility.

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Path to Zero - Part 2

Achieving sustainable mobility will require multiple solutions, according to two experts in automotive engineering who talk to Tucker in the second of a two-part episode of Path to Zero.

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Fueling the Future with Tammy Klein

For this video podcast, I spoke with Dr. Felix Leach, Associate Professor of Engineering Science at Oxford University and Dr. Peter Kelly Senecal, Co-Owner and Vice President, Convergent Science on their just-released book, Racing Toward Zero: The Untold Story of Driving Green.

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Electric or Eclectic? Alternate Routes on the Road to Zero Emissions

Electrify everything? Not so fast. Achieving sustainable mobility will require multiple solutions. There is no silver bullet.

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Podcast: The Future of Automotive Power

Is it the end of the road for the internal combustion engine? One expert contends there's more life ahead for gasoline-powered cars and trucks.

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The Future of Mobility

A podcast with Bandon Bartneck. The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields.

Listen here
Government Insistence Electric Cars Must Win Risks Wasting Valuable Interim Technology – Book Review

Politicians declaring they know best and nominating electric cars alone to lead the race to be green are in danger of wasting valuable and proven resources provided by internal combustion engines linked to batteries, and hybrid technology is the fastest way to reduce global carbon dioxide.

Read here