Looking at the Numbers Behind Electric Vehicle Integration in Alaska
An ACEP intern is investigating electrification of Alaskas fishing fleet and the response of vehicles to cold 窪蹋勛圖厙 environments.
Maximus Johnson is an electrical engineering undergraduate student going into his junior year at the 窪蹋勛圖厙. Under the mentorship of ACEP research engineer Michelle Wilber, Johnsons research is focused on analyzing data from electric vehicles in cold-窪蹋勛圖厙 environments. Specifically, hes looking at how extreme temperatures in Alaska affect electric vehicles range and battery life. He is working with fellow intern Micheal Lindmann to compile a catalog of electrified cars and other land vehicles that are or will soon be available in Alaska.
Johnson is also developing a model to represent the power use of gill net vessels in the Southeast Alaska fishing fleet. Hes working with Chandler Kemp, assistant professor at UAF Bristol Bay 窪蹋勛圖厙 and founder of Kempy Energetics. Johnson hopes to visit Sitka this summer to help collect data on energy use from a prototype electric troll gurdy a mechanism that pulls in all of the hooks and weights for commercial fishermen and see how it compares to conventional hydraulic power.
During his internship, Johnson has been working in Jupyter notebooks a popular data analysis platform to produce usable figures and information for both projects with Python code. He is excited to work with data that is being collected from a fishery that has ties to him and his community.
As a lifelong fisherman in Alaska, it is rewarding to be applying my skills to something that directly benefits the future of my home state, said Johnson.
In addition to pursuing engineering, Johnson enjoys taking advantage of everything Alaska has to offer by hunting, fishing and hiking as often as possible. He also enjoys basketball, soccer, chess, weightlifting and watching his beloved Kansas City Chiefs play football.
Johnsons project is part of the ACEP Undergraduate Student Internship program and is funded by the and the .
For more information on the internship program, please contact Jeff Fisher at jsfisher3@alaska.edu.
Maximus Johnson. Photo by Jeff Fisher.