Toyota Scientist Dr. Rana Mohtadi Recognized As ECS Fellow In 2024

Published: Friday, July 12, 2024, 0:51 [IST]

Dr. Rana Mohtadi, a senior principal scientist at the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA), has been named a Fellow by the Electrochemical Society (ECS) in its Class of 2024. This recognition marks her as the first female from an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to receive this honour.

The ECS Fellow designation, established in 1989, honours individuals for their advanced technological contributions in electrochemical and solid-state science and technology, as well as their service to the Society. Dr. Mohtadi joins a distinguished group of about 40 women among the 400 ECS fellows.

Dr. Mohtadi has made significant strides in battery chemistry research. Her pioneering work on high-value materials for chemical and electrochemical energy storage technologies has set new trends in electrolyte research for multivalent batteries. She developed both liquid and solid-state electrolyte materials for mono and multivalent beyond Li-ion batteries, which are being considered for practical applications.

Jeff Makarewicz, Group Vice President of Technical Research & Resources at Toyota Motor North America R&D, expressed pride in Dr. Mohtadi's achievements: "This is an incredible honour for Rana, but also recognition to Toyota for two consecutive years, demonstrating the prowess we have in battery technology." He added that Dr. Mohtadi is a prominent scientist in battery development.

Dr. Mohtadi also serves as a Principal Investigator at the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University in Japan. She holds a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina and has 36 patents to her name.

Toyota’s Commitment to Innovation

Toyota has been part of North America's cultural fabric for over 65 years, advancing sustainable mobility through its Toyota and Lexus brands and more than 1,800 dealerships. The company employs over 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to designing, engineering, and assembling nearly 47 million vehicles across 12 manufacturing plants.

By 2025, Toyota's 13th plant in North Carolina will begin manufacturing automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. Currently, Toyota offers 29 electrified vehicle options, more than any other automaker.

Ongoing Research and Development Efforts

Toyota Motor North America Research & Development (TMNA R&D) has led engineering efforts for many best-selling Toyota vehicles on U.S. roads for over 50 years. The teams are now focused on creating next-generation vehicles and advanced mobility concepts to better move people, goods, and information.

Toyota's innovation efforts have resulted in more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office than any other automaker for the past decade, with 2,667 patents granted in 2023 alone. TMNA R&D is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Globally, Toyota invests approximately $1 million per hour on research and development to ensure continuous advancement of high-quality and appealing vehicles.

The ECS announcement includes profiles of all 13 honorees in the Class of 2024.