PRESIDENT of Global Technology & Business Development Jerome G. Rivard, delivered his lecture on Convergence - A Guiding Hand for Automotive Electronics at IIT the second day of international symposium on Automotive Electronics at IIT the second day of international symposium on Automotive Electronics and Alternate Energy Vehicles here on Saturday.

He spoke on history and accomplishments of convergence conference which provided a global influence on the evolution of transportation electronics for the past 25 years. Highlighting the evolution of automotive electronics and its three-phases from early 60s to current period, he described the lessons learned by the industry as need for system engineering, automotive and electronic and its three-phases from early 60s to current period, he described the lessons learned by the industry as need for system enigneering, automotive and electronic industry, cultural difference and quality and cost.

The second speaker was Dr P.G. Patil, Director, United States Department of Energy, who spoke on advanced automotive technologies. He gave details of the technologies being investigated by the partnership for a new generation of vehicles which were a partnership between US government and the major automotive industries in the US. The technologies being considered are compression-ignition, direct-injection engines, fuel cells, electronics, generators, power electronics, high power batteries and advanced materials.

The third speaker, Mr. Sachal Gidwani, Director of Engineering, Delphi Automotive Systems, Tokyo, spoke about the automotive electronics and technologies at the turn of the millennium. He said the automotive industry had to deliver products conforming to priorities for future, that is safety, environment, quality and low cost. In the session on technology development, the key note address was given by Mr. P.S. Deodhar, President, Aplab Ltd.Who talked on urban transport, pollution and technology, followed by four technical paper presentations from both industries and research organisations. In the session, challenges and future of automobile electronics, the first speaker was Dr. James J. Mackenzie of World Resource Institute, USA, who had delivered his lecture on sustainable transportation in the 21st century.

Dr. Lon E.Bell, Chairman and CEO, Amerigon Inc, USA, spoke on electric vehicle's readiness to meet market needs for alternate energy vehicle. Prof Socihi Inshiara of Meijo University, Japan, spoke on emerging alternate energy vehicle technologies for Asian needs. However, Mr. Salim Momin, Director Motorola, USA, and Dr. Samuel Schweitzer of Environment Centre, USAID, USA, also delivered their lecture on the occasion.