Henrietta, N.Y. – Fuel cell research and development has been a strong link between GM and RIT for over a decade.
“It's a very efficient and, if you will, intelligent way to harvest energy from fuel,” said RIT Professor Satish Kandlikar, while he explained fuel cell technology.
“I think it's an extremely important piece in our energy economy in our coming future,” said Evan See, a 6th year mechanical engineering student at RIT. See says part of the reason he chose to continue his education at RIT was its program with GM.
“It's been extremely beneficial for them to be close by,” said See. “If a problem does happen in this lab, often they can come down after work.”
See says while he will miss having the GM plant in Honeoye Falls, he doesn't foresee it changing RIT’s current program.
“We have a strong relationship with them already,” said See. “My work can continue through their support further away.”
Professor Kandlikar says RIT’s and GM’s relationship is vital to the future of the program.
“Their guidance is crucial,” said Professor Kandlikar, “we can continue doing this if they work with us in the future, and I have every hope that this will happen.”
The lab is working with GM under a grant from the department of energy that runs through 2013.
