DATE: 3:30-5 p.m., Feb. 20, 2009.

EVENT: A discussion and celebration of the new General Motors/University of Michigan Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains (ABCD) with U.S. Rep. John Dingell and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin.

The ABCD will accelerate the development of advanced batteries by conducting cutting-edge experiments and simulations to better understand and resolve issues related to battery life and performance. This coalition also includes the creation of a specialized curriculum to develop future automotive battery engineers within the U-M College of Engineering. Speakers at the event include:

? U.S. Rep. John Dingell, at 4:10 p.m.

? U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, at 4:05 p.m.

? David Munson, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, at 3:45 p.m.

? Tom Stephens, General Motors executive vice president, global powertrain and global quality, at 3:45 p.m.

? Ann Marie Sastry, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Mechanical, Biomedical and Materials Science and Engineering, and U-M’s co-director of the ABCD, at 3:50 p.m.

? Jim Queen, General Motors group vice president, global engineering, at 3:50 p.m.

? Bob Kruse, General Motors executive director, global vehicle engineering hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries, and co-director of the ABCD, at 4:10 p.m.

? Students in the Energy Systems Engineering program, the collaboration between U-M and GM that aims to create the work force necessary for a smooth transition to electric vehicles that interface with the grid, at 4:15 p.m.

An informal discussion will follow.

PLACE: The GM Conference Room on the fourth floor of the Lurie Engineering Center, 1221 Beal Ave., on U-M’s North Campus in Ann Arbor. For a map, including parking, visit www.engin.umich.edu/facilities/maps/luriecenter.html. Visitor parking passes are available by contacting Nicole Casal Moore at [email protected].

CONTACTS: Nicole Casal Moore, (734) 647-1838 or (734) 647-7087, [email protected]; or Adam Benson, press secretary for Dingell, (202) 225-0881 or (202) 271-8587.

MORE INFORMATION: Batteries and the future of the electric car at Michigan Engineering