The brainers
Michel Forissier – Engineer
Michel Forissier is passionate about cars. An engineer from the Ecole Centrale de Lyon, he spent 43 years in the automotive industry designing cars and systems, particularly in the field of energy efficiency and decarbonization of mobility. He started at Renault, where he had numerous assignments in the fields of safety, thermics, aerodynamics and engines, before becoming project manager, then project director of the Espace program in cooperation with Matra Automobiles, and taking part in challenging projects such as the Alpine 610, the Renault Spyder, and many others. In 1996 Michel Forissier joined Valeo, where he spent 27 years in engineering, innovation and marketing. He was instrumental in transforming the Group’s strategy towards emissions reduction, notably by directing the development of propulsion systems, both thermal and electric, and by founding numerous JVs, including one with Siemens. He ended his career in June 2023 as Group Engineering and Marketing Director, covering all activities (Powertrain, ADAS, Lighting, Thermal). He is now a consultant, investor, lecturer and startup coach, as well as a member of the SIA, SAE and AFPA.
This brainer takes part in round-table discussions, offers improvisation sessions and the following solo talks:
The electric car, inevitability or opportunity?
To discuss this subject, we first need to put it in its historical, regulatory and environmental context. We’ll talk about the automobile’s responsibility for climate change, past and future milestones, and the issues at stake. But mobility is also changing, with the emergence of big cities, post-Covid telecommuting and Generation Z. A shift away from the car towards a mobility offer is more than likely, and will be described and quantified. Of all possible solutions, electrification offers the best compromise. A comparison of efficiency, volume, weight and price will be presented between battery-powered or hydrogen-powered electric cars, and gasoline or hydrogen-powered combustion engines. Advantages and disadvantages in terms of feasibility, access to resources, vehicle and fuel prices, range, infrastructure, international competition and social impact will be discussed. Finally, a number of ideas will be put forward to objectivize the debate and define solutions adapted to different needs and uses. In conclusion, we will discuss the need to transform the automotive ecosystem, and the risks and opportunities that lie ahead.