PROFILE

Hans is a dynamic, hands-on and application-oriented Industrial Engineer. He specialises in the development, design and specification of battery systems for portable, stationary and automotive markets. Hans is ambitious and has perseverance to reach technical and cost performance goals set by market requirements. His dedication and enthusiasm to highlight characteristics and advantages of novel technologies has always been appreciated by customers and his marketing colleagues.

 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Product development for industrial applications, including medical
• Management of interdisciplinary teams
• All areas of intellectual property protection
• Technical and market reports, government funded projects

 

EXPERIENCE

enerSTORE Consulting Limited

Director Company established November 2004

 

 

Pacific Lithium (NZ) Limited – Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand

1998 to November 2004

Product Manager Power Modules 2003 to November 2004

• Design of novel High Power Li-ion battery product for specific applications. Product documentation and costing
• Product marketing, including sampling to customers

Division Manager Integration 2000-2003

• Integration of High Power Li-ion batteries for Distributed Power applications in collaboration with potential end users
• Developed batteries which can be discharged at ultra-high rates. Involved in design for scale-up to 100 kW batteries. Participated in first successful test of a 10 kW prototype and development of an electronic battery management system
• Performance and safety tests according to international standards
• Technical support of marketing department
• Application and management of government funded projects

Development Manager 1998-2000

• Establishment of laboratories for cell assembly under strictly non-aqueous conditions and for electrochemical testing on a total of over 500 test channels controlled by computers Designed Macros for automatic data analysis procedures
• Electrochemical characterisation of novel cathode materials and other battery-related components
• Technical product presentation and customer liaison in collaboration with the marketing department

Leclanché S.A. – Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland

1992 to 1998

Director R+D and Director of Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Department 1993-1998

• Directed team of 25-30 scientists, engineers - including sales and marketing - technicians and factory workers
• Responsible for R+D strategy and budgets
• Project management for the development and industrialisation of nickel metal hydride batteries, supercapacitors, dye solar cells and battery chargers (“intelligent chargers”)
• Production manager for manufacture of Ni-MH button cells
• Applications development, particularly for telecommunication and medical markets
• Requested by Swiss Foundation of Microtechnology to give one-day courses on battery technology to electronic engineers

Project Manager Nickel-Metal Hydride Battery Department 1992-1993

• Development of nickel-metal hydride batteries, including button cells.
• In April 1993, equipped a prototype electric car with one of the world’s first large nickel-metal hydride battery packs developed in-house

 

Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland – Villigen, Switzerland

1987 to 1992

Manager of the Battery Group 1991-1992

• Development work targeted at rechargeable lithium and magnesium-based batteries
• Application and management of government funded projects

Research Electrochemist 1987-1990

• Applied research on electrochemical storage, electrochemistry of aluminium-air batteries and conducting polymers, AC impedance spectroscopy

 

EDUCATION - AFFILIATION

• 1986-1976 - Postdoctoral Fellowships at University of Utah, UT, USA and Purdue University, IN, USA. In situ infrared and Raman spectroscopy of electrochemical systems including nickel hydroxide and TiO₂
• 1985 - received PhD in Science from the Department of Physical Chemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL). Photoelectrochemistry of semiconductor electrodes
• 1980 - Diploma in Chemistry (equivalent to M. Sc.), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zürich (ETHZ)
• Member of the Electrochemical Society
• Member of the Australasian Corrosion Association