Chattanooga Engineers Club
www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org

NEXT MEETING___________________________

Monday, Feb. 23 - Noon - Chattanooga Convention Center

"Human Factors Engineering for cars and trucks at Toyota Technical Center, Ann Arbor, MI" - Fred W. Lupton III, Manager of Human Factors Group at Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, MI will speak about Toyota’s history of manufacturing and vehicle design in North America.  Mr. Lupton will also present an overview of the area he manages in vehicle design; Human Factors, including Toyota’s application of Universal Design.  Fred’s group designs vehicles for the basic task of driving, and creates a pleasing experience for the operator.

FUTURE MEETINGS________________________

Monday, Mar. 2 - Noon - "Investigation of the potential to turn carbohydrate-rich waste into Ethanol"

Speaker:  Terry Howell, Manager of Research and New Technology at McKee Foods

Meeting Place: DOUBLETREE HOTEL, CHATTANOOGA (407 Chestnut St., Chattanooga, TN 37402)

Monday, Mar. 9 - Noon - "Warm Mix Asphalt Technology"

Speaker: Daniel Edwards, Lead Engineer for Astec Inc.'s Green System product

line

Meeting Place: will advise

Monday, Mar. 16 - Noon - “Seasoned cast iron:  How we do it and the problems we’ve overcome”

Speaker:  Keith Nunley, Engineering Manager, Lodge Manufacturing

Meeting Place: will advise

Monday, Mar. 23 - Noon - Enterprise Networks (What’s in your closet?)  Plus, “25, or more, tips to take home with you”

Speaker:  Chuck Chamberlin, Director of Telephone & Network Systems, Chattanooga State

Meeting Place: will advise

Monday, Mar. 30 - Noon - Tennessee Aquarium:  Life Support System Design

Speaker:  Scott McKenzie, Vice President of Special Projects

Meeting Place:  will advise

PREVIOUS MEETING_______________________

Feb. 16 – Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning and Strategy for Nissan North America, announced Nissan's plans to bring its new all-electric car to the United States.  Tennessee will be one of the first markets for this car, after it arrives in late 2010.  Also, the company eventually would like to make the car and its batteries in Smyrna, Tennessee, and the Chattanooga area is in line to accommodate an electric refueling infrastructure for the new vehicle.  “Tennessee will be a launch market,” said Perry. 

Mr. Perry discussed the features of the car, including the lithium ion battery pack; the annual maintenance costs, which will be about $1,350 lower annually for the pure electric vehicle than for a conventional car; and, the government tax credit up to $7,500 for a buyer of an electric vehicle.  “The pay back is immediate,” said Perry. He estimated the cost to “fill the tank” in the Tennessee Valley at about 90 cents.  Filling at a residence will take about four to eight hours to do so at a residence.  Nissan’s plans are to reduce that time frame down to four hours in 2012.

Concerning recharging infrastructure, Nissan plans are to start in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin area. Nissan’s USA headquarters are located in Franklin. Future plans are to gain infrastructure in Knoxville and Chattanooga and eventually into North Carolina, said Perry.  While the car will be made in Japan initially, the company likes to produce vehicles in the country where they are to be purchased.

ITEMS OF INTEREST_______________________

Please remember to return your dues promptly and consider a donation to the Scholarship Fund.

The current meeting location of the CEC is the Chattanooga Convention Center, 1 Carter Plaza. http://www.chattconvention.org/specifications.htm.  Professional Development Hours (PDH) are available for most meetings.

We will try out the DOUBLETREE HOTEL and consider making the DOUBLETREE our regular meeting location.  Free parking is available.  The parking lot is adjacent to the Hotel on the south side.

Looking for details on a local society meeting? Links to local engineering societies are available to you at: http://www.chattanoogaengineersclub.org/engineer/

QUESTIONS and SUGGESTIONS______________
If you have any questions, items of interest to the Chattanooga Engineers Club, or suggestions for 2009 programs, please contact Joe Robbins by phone at 423-756-4430 or by e-mail at jrobbins@robbinsbohr.com. You can find membership application forms, references to future programs, and historical data, and other info at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org . To receive future meeting announcements by email, join the Chattanooga Technology Organization mailing list at: http://www.ChattanoogaEngineersClub.org/email