Date and time
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Location
ECST CoLab at ET B-109
Description
It started with a college student and a challenge to MIT. More than 50 years later, his innovations are part of the story of modern electric vehicles.
Join us for the next ECST Distinguished Speaker Series featuring Wally E. Rippel, an electric vehicle innovator whose career spans NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, AeroVironment, Tesla, and AC Propulsion, which he co-founded.
In 1968, while studying at Caltech, Rippel challenged MIT to a cross-country electric car race involving a converted Volkswagen bus.
Hear Rippel share his experiences in the development of modern EV technology and what he's learned about the process of invention.
Birth of the Modern EV
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
12:00–1:30 p.m.
ET B-109 | ECST CoLab
12:00–1:30 p.m.
ET B-109 | ECST CoLab
Cal State LA
Free food provided!
#WeAreECST #CalStateLA #ElectricVehicles #Engineering #Innovation
Contact
ECST Dean's Office, E&T A-237
Phone
(323)343-4500