OEMs are reshaping their powertrain strategies, expanding their focus on ICE-based solutions that incorporate mild hybrid, full hybrid, and plug-in hybrid technologies. This shift is redefining expectations for fuel systems, combustion performance, and vehicle integration as manufacturers optimize efficiency and capability across a diverse range of drivetrains.
ITB’s 2026 conference will address how these changes are influencing fuel storage, delivery, materials, and system engineering across the supply chain. The program brings together experts to discuss new technical demands, evolving standards, and innovations driving the next generation of combustion and hybrid vehicles.
Join us to explore where fuel-based powertrains are headed—and learn how your organization can stay at the forefront of these developments. View the program agenda and secure your seat today.
Looking to promote your company and increase your visibility? Take part as a sponsor, and/or exhibitor and position your company in front of a highly targeted audience of OEMs, Tier suppliers, and technical decision-makers actively shaping the future of fuel systems and mobility. Build relationships, schedule customer meetings, showcase your latest technologies, and strengthen your brand through heightened exposure.
Questions? Contact Bryan Eldredge, Program Director at beldredge@itbgroup.com or Phone: +1 (248) 380-6310.
CONFERENCE AGENDA - October 29, 2026
7:30 a.m. |
Registration, Networking, and Continental Breakfast
|
8:50 a.m. |
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Dr. Joel Kopinsky, Managing Director and Co-founder - The ITB Group
|
Competing Pathways to Net Zero Mobility
9:00 a.m. |
ICE? BEV? PHEV? Reading the Policy Signals: What the Regulatory Environment Actually Means for Powertrain Investment Decisions
Matthew Roling, Clinical Professor & Executive Director, Abrams Climate Academy - Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
|
Engineering Materials for Tomorrow's Fuel Systems
9:30 a.m. |
Multi-Layer-Tubing Solutions Based on Long-Chain-Polyamides for Innovative and Cost-Effective Fuel Carrying Systems
David Schmitz, Segment Manager Automotive & Mobility, Long-Chain Polyamides - Evonik
|
9:50 a.m. |
Sustainable Product Realization in Automotive Systems: A Case Study
Prashant Bhokardole, Staff Engineer - Phinia
|
10:10 a.m. |
Rilperm® Multi-Layer Tubing Systems for LWO Fuel Lines Cosimo Carfagna, Senior Business Development Engineer, Transportation - Arkema
|
10:30 a.m. |
Coffee and Conversations Break
|
Evaporative Emissions: Regulations, Technologies & Testing
11:10 a.m. |
California Evaporative Emission Standards
Jason Gordon, Air Resources Engineer - California Air Resources Board (CARB)
|
11:30 a.m. |
Impact of a 100% Renewable 2nd Generation Gasoline on Evaporative Emissions
Johan Bruyninx, Senior Technical Manager Fuel Systems - IDIADA
|
11:50 a.m. |
Advanced Passive Venting for High Pressure Fuel Tank Systems
Lawrence Mukaronda, Global Executive Director, Valves - Gentherm
|
12:10 p.m. |
Evaporative Emissions Future
Jason Andrzejewski, Global Technical Specialist Evaporative Emissions - General Motors
|
12:30 p.m. |
Short Remarks: Real World Experience with e-Fuels
Hans Jensen, Member of the eFuels Alliance
|
12:40 p.m. |
Lunch
|
Engineering Fuel Storage for the Energy Transition
1:40 p.m. |
Hydrogen Tanks : The Tubeless Revolution of Type V!
Bertrand Florentz, President - BFLC&A (Technical Advisor to COVESS)
|
2:05 p.m. |
Thermodynamic Modeling of Fast Filling and Emptying in Type IV Hydrogen Storage Tanks
Zohir Benrabah, Research Officer - Forming & Blow-Moulding Scientist - National Research Council Canada (NRCC)
|
2:30 p.m. |
The Sound of Silence: Fuel Tank Solutions for Quiet PHEV and REEV Architectures
Dr. Bernhardt Lüddecke, Director Validation Global - Kautex Textron
|
2:55 p.m. |
Technological Progress of Pressurized Tank Systems for Enhanced Integration and Economic Performance
Romulo Kos Erbano, Engineering Director, Fuel Tanks & Delivery Systems, Americas - TI Automotive
|
3:20 p.m. |
Coffee and Conversations Break
|
Low-Carbon Fuels: From Innovation to Implementation
3:45 p.m. |
Biodiesel Industry & Policy Update: The Trend Toward Higher Blends
Jennifer Weaver, President and CEO - JenMotion Consulting
|
4:05 p.m. |
Beyond the Mandate: Building a Practical, Scalable Path to Cleaner Transportation
Todd Mouw, EVP, Sales, Marketing & Service - ROUSH CleanTech
|
4:25 p.m. |
Renewable Diesel is Here to Stay: Market Trends, Future Outlook, and Key Considerations for OEMs
Matt Leuck, Technical Manager of Renewable Diesel - Neste
|
4:45 p.m. |
Comparison of Engine-Out and Tailpipe Emissions for RD100 and B30 Versus ULSD
Rahul Mital, Shailesh Lopes, and Sarah Funk - General Motors
Alex Bruce, Patrick Bannon, and Mojghan Naseri - Johnson Matthey
|
5:10 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
|
Conference Presenters
Dr. Joel Kopinsky
Managing Director - The ITB Group
Dr. Kopinsky (Ph.D. Chemical Engineering and MBA) is responsible for The ITB Group’s consulting assignments in energy storage, vehicle emissions, plastic engine parts and glazing systems. Over the past 25 years he has completed a variety of strategic and technical feasibility consulting projects for leading suppliers, OEMs and investment banks in North America, Europe and Asia. In addition, he has completed numerous multiclient reports concerned with energy storage, glazing and powertrain technologies. In the 1980’s, Dr. Kopinsky worked at the General Motors Research Labs followed by the completion of his MBA at Columbia University. On the side, Dr. Kopinsky is an avid clarinetist and long-haul hiker.
Matthew Roling
Clinical Professor & Executive Director, Abrams Climate Academy - Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Mr. Roling is a Professor at the Kellogg School of Management and inaugural Executive Director of the Abrams Climate Academy, focusing on data center environmental impacts and climate finance. Previously, he advised corporate and government clients on decarbonization at KPMG LLP and taught at Fordham and Wayne State University. He holds a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School and both master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
David Schmitz
Segment Manager Automotive & Mobility, Long-Chain Polyamides - Evonik
Mr. Schmitz is currently the Segment Manager for Automotive & Mobility at the Evonik Corporation. Here he oversees the sales and marketing team for the long-chain polyamide business in the Americas region. Prior to this role, he held various positions in R&D, application technology, technical marketing and key account management in Germany and in the U.S. Mr. Schmitz holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and master’s degree in Polymer Chemistry from the University of Applied Science in Aachen.
Prashant Bhokardole
Staff Engineer - PHINIA
Mr. Bhokardole is a Staff Mechanical Engineer at PHINIA, leading sustainable product development for fuel systems in North America to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He has over 18 years of experience in simulation-driven design in the automotive and energy sectors and has multiple patents in valve train systems, emissions control, and turbine technologies. Mr. Bhokardole has also authored publications on innovative methods for evaluating mechanical strength. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Cosimo Carfagna
Senior Business Development Engineer, Transportation, High Performance Polymers - Arkema
Mr. Carfagna is a Senior Business Development Engineer, Transportation, at Arkema High Performance Polymers, bringing more than three decades of experience in the polymer industry. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University “Federico II” of Naples, Italy, and completed post‑doctoral research at the Universities of Naples, Salerno and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He has authored and co‑authored several publications in applied polymer science, and is recognized for his expertise in automotive and industrial applications of engineering plastics.
Jason Gordon
Air Resources Engineer - California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Mr. Gordon is an Air Resources Engineer at CARB, leading the on-road motor vehicle evaporative emission reduction program since 2010. Here he is investigating ways to further reduce evaporative emissions and refine the leak testing procedure for sealed fuel systems to make in-use testing more meaningful. Mr. Gordon led the vehicle portion of the 2018 California fill pipe specification amendment and previously worked as a manufacturing engineer in both the medical device and semiconductor industries. Mr. Gordon holds a mechanical engineering degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Johan Bruyninx
Senior Technical Manager Fuel Systems - IDIADA
Mr. Bruyninx joined IDIADA in 2015 and works in the powertrain department as a Senior Technical Manager, Fuel Systems. Here his responsibilities include technology awareness, team support, consultancy services and project management. Since 2020 he also examines the hydrogen market, scouting new opportunities within H2 fuel system technology. Prior to these roles Mr. Bruyninx worked at Delphi Automotive Systems and was responsible for the test and validation of the fuel handling and evaporative products. He has been a co-author on papers focused on particulate exhaust emissions, brake emission measurements and HRS to Vehicle communications (H2 refueling). Mr. Bruyninx holds an Associate Degree in Automotive Engineering.
Lawrence Mukaronda
Global Executive Director, Valves - Gentherm
Mr. Mukaronda is the Global Executive Director of the Valves Business Unit at Gentherm where he leads the strategy, development, and growth of valve technologies supporting advanced thermal management, fluid control, and mobility applications. With over 20 years of automotive leadership, he previously served as Chief Sustainability Officer and VP of R&D at Alfmeier, and as a DaimlerChrysler research engineer. Mr. Mukaronda holds multiple patents, a master’s degree in Process Engineering from Georg Simon Ohm University of Applied Sciences, and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University.
Jason Andrzejewski
Global Technical Specialist Evaporative Emissions - General Motors
With over 20 years of deep expertise in fuel systems and evaporative emissions, Mr. Andrzejewski brings a cross-industry perspective shaped by his work at Chrysler, Raval, and the past 14 years at General Motors. For the last 11 years, he has served as GM’s Global Technical Specialist for Evaporative Emissions, leading global strategy, regulatory alignment, and advanced system development across regions.
Hans Jensen
Member - eFuels Alliance
Mr. Jensen began his career as a Development Engineer with Daimler-Benz in 1983, later joining MAHLE Filter Systems in 1991. Here he worked for 20 years holding different development roles including 6 years in the USA. Later he joined TI Automotive, Eberspaecher Climate Control and TI Fluid Systems to build up Thermal management Systems for BEVs. After his retirement in 2023 he increased his support in E-Fuel activities with the MG Car Club and the eFuels Alliance. Mr. Jensen holds more than 40 patents in automotive technology development with a particular knowledge of creating plastic products that take the place of metal and thermal systems. Mr. Jensen received a mechanical engineering degree from RWTH Aachen.
Bertrand Florentz
President - BFLC&A (Technical Advisor to COVESS)
Mr. Florentz has over 40 years of working experience with 27 years spent at Hutchinson. Here he served in various Director positions related to automotive sealing systems, aerospace and defense, R&D, composites, and cumulating as New Technology Strategy Director for Hydrogen. Currently Mr. Florentz is the President of BFLC&A (Technical Advisor to COVESS), where he focuses on consulting for diesel retrofit to hydrogen and hydrogen tanks. He holds a degree from the Higher School of Aeronautical Techniques and Automobile Construction.
Dr. Zohir Benrabah
Senior Research Officer, Forming & Blow-Moulding Scientist - National Research Council Canada (NRCC)
Dr. Benrabah is a Senior Research Officer at the National Research Council Canada specializing in numerical simulation of thermoplastic forming processes. He holds mechanical engineering degrees and a Ph.D. in computational structure from Laval University. An expert in thermoplastic forming simulation with 40+ papers, he develops the BlowView platform, recently focusing on BlowView-H2 capabilities for Type IV hydrogen storage tanks and thermodynamic filling simulations.
Dr. Bernhardt Lüddecke
Director Validation Global - Kautex Textron
Dr. Lüddecke is Director of Validation Global and AI Deployment Americas at Kautex in Troy, Michigan. He leads global validation and regional AI adoption, leveraging prior leadership positions at MAHLE, Continental, and Vitesco which spanned electrification, hydrogen, and simulation. Dr. Lüddecke holds an engineering doctorate from the University of Stuttgart, has been granted multiple patents, numerous innovation awards, and is a published author.
Romulo Kos Erbano
Engineering Director, Fuel Tanks & Delivery Systems, Americas - TI Automotive
Mr. Kos Erbano is the Engineering Director for TI Automotive in North America where he is responsible for leading the application engineering teams in the development and launch of fuel tanks and delivery systems for global OEM customers. He has worked for Tier 1 automotive fuel system suppliers for over 19 years in 3 countries. Mr. Kos Erbano holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical technology from Universidade Technologica Federal do Parana Brazil, and a master’s degree in Project Management from FAE Business School in Brazil.
Jennifer Weaver
President and CEO - JenMotion Consulting
Ms. Weaver is the President and CEO of JenMotion Consulting and also serves as the OEM Market Development Manager and Senior Communications Consultant for Clean Fuels Alliance America. In this capacity, she has worked for the past 24 years as a liaison between the Clean Fuels industry and all the major auto, engine and equipment manufacturers. Her core responsibilities include educating those companies, as well as their suppliers, dealers, fleets and other customers, on key technical advances in biodiesel and renewable diesel, while collaboratively guiding their efforts to support and promote the use of these fuels in their diesel engines and future diesel vehicle programs. Ms. Weaver holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and an MBA from Miami University in Ohio. Ms. Weaver is also a published author with numerous articles appearing in trade journals.
Todd Mouw
EVP, Sales, Marketing & Service - ROUSH CleanTech
Mr. Mouw is executive vice president of ROUSH CleanTech where he leads the company’s teams for government affairs, customer success, marketing and national business development. He has decades of experience in automotive and high-tech industries including extensive sales and marketing experience with Ford, GM and Chrysler’s dealer, fleet and consumer communications programs. Mr. Mouw has been featured in hundreds of media interviews and bylined articles and is the recipient of the Green Fleet Sustainability All-Star Award. Mr. Mouw holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and is a board member of NTEA.
Matt Leuck
Technical Manager of Renewable Diesel - Neste
Mr. Leuck is the Technical Manager of Renewable Diesel for Neste in the Americas where he serves as the principal technical point of contact for the Renewable Products team. Here he provides expertise to stakeholders about renewable fuel’s position in the larger energy picture, how it works in engines, the value it provides, and its widespread applications. Prior to joining Neste, he held various engineering and commercial roles in the diesel engine and upstream energy industries. Mr. Leuck holds a bachelor's degree in engineering technology from Texas Tech University, and a master’s degree in global energy management from the University of Colorado.
Dr. Rahul Mital
Global Senior Technical Fellow - General Motors
Dr. Rahul Mital is the Global Senior Technical Fellow and Engineering Technical Leader for Diesel Aftertreatment at GM. Here he is responsible for new technology development, production release, and warranty for all GM diesel vehicles globally. Dr. Mital holds over 50 U.S. patents and 40 publications, earned multiple SAE and GM Boss Kettering awards and was honored with Purdue University’s Outstanding Engineer award. Dr. Mital has a bachelor’s degree from Indian Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.
