Dr Stuart Hillmansen is a Senior Lecturer in Electrical Energy Systems within the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham. His main area of research interest is in hybrid traction systems for use in railway vehicles. He is a member of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education at the University of Birmingham. His recent research has been supported by the European Commission, EPSRC, Network Rail, RSSB, Arup, Egis Rail, Alstom, the Department for Transport, Atkins Rail. He has authored a large number of papers on railway energy consumption and presented the work at a number of international conferences. Dr Hillmansen leads the Railway Traction Systems Group in the University of Birmingham.

The main achievement since Dr Hillmansen joined Birmingham is to have re-established the University’s international reputation for traction research, and to have produced fundamental research which has a direct and current benefit to the railway industry. The group have developed leading expertise in hybrid and fuel cell rail propulsion and our expertise and research results have been used by the UK Government to inform the procurement of new rolling stock. Recent work undertaken by the team has included the development of the architectures for advanced power system for the next generation of High Speed Railway Lines. This work is continuing and is now supported by the Energy Systems Integration Laboratory which has been funded by AWM and ERDF. This laboratory will assist the team in producing outstanding research outputs for many years to come.