Chris Woolley's Journey in Engineering and Vision for the EV Future
Key Ideas
  • Chris Woolley has had a diverse career in leadership engineering roles, focusing on innovative electric motor technologies at YASA.
  • YASA is currently collaborating with Mercedes-Benz on developing smaller, more efficient electric motors for high-performance vehicles.
  • The EV industry faces challenges in infrastructure and raw material availability, with future advancements expected in solid-state batteries.
  • Woolley envisions a future where battery-electric vehicles dominate the European market by 2030, complemented by hydrogen fuel cells in heavy-duty vehicles.
Chris Woolley, the Engineering Director at YASA, shares his journey in the automotive industry, highlighting his role in pushing the limits of axial flux electric motor technologies. Woolley's focus on innovation and collaboration is evident in YASA's projects, including an exciting partnership with Mercedes-Benz to enhance electric motors for high-performance vehicles. Woolley discusses technology breakthroughs in the EV sector, emphasizing the significance of advancements in battery energy density and silicon carbide power electronics. He praises YASA's axial flux technology for its compactness and performance, foreseeing its pivotal role in making EVs more appealing. The interview delves into challenges faced by the EV industry, such as the need for improved charging infrastructure and sustainable battery materials. Woolley anticipates the next big leap in EV development to come from solid-state batteries and vehicle-to-grid technologies. Looking ahead to 2030, Woolley predicts a market dominated by battery-electric vehicles in Europe, with hydrogen fuel cells serving heavy-duty applications. He advocates for standardization in charging networks, greater diversity in engineering teams, and quicker regulatory adaptation to match technological progress in the industry.
ADVANCEH2

Our vision is to be the world's leading online platform for advancing the use of hydrogen as a critical piece needed to deliver net-zero initiatives and the promise of a clean H2 energy future.

© 2025 AdvanceH2, LLC. All rights reserved.