PBS News Host to Moderate SEMA Show Panel on Alternative Fuels

Margaret Hoover, CNN contributor and host of PBS program Firing Line With Margaret Hoover, will moderate a discussion of automotive industry experts on the future of alternative fuels technology during the SEMA Show, event organizers announced.

The Future of Automotive Fuel Technology panel will take place on Nov. 2, in the North Hall (Room N258) beginning at 3 p.m., the organization said.

Attendees can engage with a panel of subject-matter experts as they discuss the application, benefits, integration, and practical and scalable solutions that can accelerate decarbonization through alternative fuel technologies.

The panel will cover multiple aspects of alternative fuels, including the definition of alternative fuels and manufacturing processes; the application of alternative fuels in the automotive industry; emerging technologies and decarbonization targets; and the infrastructure and policies needed for mass adaptation, SEMA representatives said.

“SEMA’s approach to future propulsion is technology neutral,” said Luis Morales, SEMA director of vehicle technology. “We have members that are at the forefront of advanced technology systems, including hydrogen, biofuels, synthetics and EV. This panel will help attendees understand what’s happening in the industry and how the industry is already pushing the creative envelope in alternative fuel technology.”

Future of Automotive Fuel Technology panelists include:

• Michael Boe, vice president and general manager, Global Aftermarket, BorgWarner Emission, Thermal and Turbo Systems. Boe is part of BorgWarner’s Sustainability Committee, which shapes BorgWarner’s ongoing focus for carbon neutrality.
• Elaina Farnsworth, co-founder and CEO, SkillFusion. Farnsworth is focused on growing a certified talent pool to operate and maintain electric vehicle chargers and facilitate the growth of the charging network across the country.
• Tuomo Isokivijärvi, chief executive officer, StepOne Tech Ltd. Isokivijärvi is an impact enthusiast who believes in solving climate change through technology, and co-founder at eFlexFuel – a technology that can upgrade more than a billion vehicles globally from using fossil fuels to biofuels.
• Indresh Mathur, PhD, director, Innovations and Customer Solutions, Monument Renewables & Fuels. Mathur has been a researcher in the specialty chemicals and fuels space for 48 years and was recently appointed director of the newly formed Monument Renewables & Fuels business.
• Zachary Santner, manager, Product Engineering – Performance Products, Sunoco. In his role, Santner provides high octane specialty fuels to the largest racing series as well the enthusiast market. A chemical engineer, Santner aspires to educate others about properly deploying performance fuels to solve complex fuel challenges.
• James Williamson, executive regional business manager, Emissions Systems, AVL. Williamson has over 20 years of experience in product development, execution and business development for exhaust emission measurement systems.

The Future of Automotive Fuel Technology panel is free for all 2023 SEMA Show attendees. Click here for more information.