ITU Graduate Shapes Electric Vehicle Technology

Department of Mechanical Engineering 2008 graduate Hande Ergitürk introduced Volvo's new electric vehicle model at the recent launch event as the product leader of the new vehicle.

Graduates of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) continue to make our country and ITU members proud by undertaking important innovative projects around the world. Department of Mechanical Engineering 2008 graduate Hande Ergitürk introduced Volvo's new electric vehicle EX90, for whose development she is responsible as the product leader, at the launch event held in Gothenburg on September 4, 2024.

ITU graduates all over the world

Our graduate Ergitürk’s assuming an influential role in a multinational automotive company and introducing to the world a new vehicle model, whose design she contributed to, attests to ITU’s strong global alumni network. ITU graduates assume important roles in international companies and organizations. Our graduate Fatih Birol has been the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency since 2015. In early 2023, our graduate Tufan Erbilgiç was appointed CEO of Rolls-Royce.

Hande Ergitürk expressed the following about the contributions of being an ITU graduate to her: “While being trained in a science-oriented institution that provides well-established and world-class education, we acquire various theoretical and practical attainments in our field. This kind of education actually teaches us various principles such as result-orientedness, ability to analyze, creativity, continuous improvement and simplification. Regardless of the subject we work on, I think that we carry these basic principles with us and apply them in business life. Since ITU’s training of well-equipped, productive and open-to-learning young minds creates a sense of trust both in academia and in the corporate world, its new graduates are known as attractive candidates in the business field. I think that being an ITU graduate has made such a contribution to me.”

“Societal awareness is forcing innovative solutions in every field”

Ergitürk said that electric vehicles have created a new awareness in terms of a sustainable society and even pushed the automotive sector towards a paradigm shift, and proceeded as follows:

“The journey that started with zero exhaust emissions is now evolving towards reducing the carbon footprint of the vehicle throughout its entire life cycle, rather than focusing only on the battery. In addition, technological features such as smart charging management and bi-directional charging in electric vehicles allow you to be a part of a sustainable ecosystem. For example, you can pre-program your vehicle to charge during the hours when the amount of electricity from renewable sources is highest (or when the electricity tariff is cheapest). Similarly, you can borrow electricity from the vehicle’s battery to meet the energy needs of your home. In short, the design, production and use of a vehicle are fed by resources in various areas. Electric vehicles also take on an important responsibility to protect the sustainability of these resources. Environmental and sustainable societal awareness is forcing brands to create innovative solutions in every field.”

About Hande Ergitürk

Hande Ergitürk graduated from ITU Department of Mechanical Engineering in 2008. She received her master’s degree in automotive engineering from Chalmers University of Technology. She has been working at Volvo’s plant in Gothenburg for 12 years.