Robert D. King

Biography

Robert D. King has devoted his 35-year career to changing the world’s dependence on fossil-fuel-driven vehicles. Known as GE’s “father of electric vehicle research and development,” over 50% of today’s hybrid-electric vehicles incorporate patents developed by Mr. King and his research team. He has been responsible for the design, development, and testing of electric and hybrid vehicle propulsion systems for the GE Hybrid Locomotive program, GE Hybrid Package Delivery Truck, GE/FTA Low Emissions Hybrid Bus Program, Modular Electric Vehicle Program, and the GE/DOE Hybrid Test Vehicle. Using compact ac traction drives and novel energy management system controls, Mr. King has demonstrated substantially reduced petroleum consumption for on-road hybrid passenger cars and reduced transit bus emissions via hybridization.

An IEEE Life Fellow, Mr. King, a senior electrical engineer with GE Global Research, Schenectady, NY, USA, retired in 2014.