INFORMS Open Forum

  • 1.  teaching case study - EVs

    Posted 03-12-2024 11:34

    If you haven't seen Chris Tang's latest article in Financial Times, please check it out. Chris wrote an FT "instant teaching case study" about electric vehicles. 

    https://www.ft.com/content/3a0a0c0e-a739-4041-bdc3-940862b13635

    So many INFORMS members are making a difference. Thank you, @Christopher Tang.



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    Elena Gerstmann
    Executive Director
    INFORMS
    egerstmann@INFORMS.org
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  • 2.  RE: teaching case study - EVs

    Posted 03-15-2024 12:23

    Chris, thanks for the illuminating case study. It's certainly a patchwork of regulations and subsidies. I believe one important factor is the electric filling station supply chain, especially in the US.  For fleets that return to a base at night, and for individuals who can charge at home, where to charge is not too big a problem, though it takes longer than filling up with petrol. However, if you need the vehicle for longer trips, where to charge and the time to charge are big issues.  These may appear as bigger problems in the minds of consumers than they really are, but we are used to a gas station on almost every corner.  It's partly a behavioral OM issue.  Actually, living in Arizona and often driving long distances brings this issue to focus; in some parts of the state there aren't even gas stations that often!  

    Then there are the problems associated with the power grid and its ability to deliver power, preferably clean power, to meet the demand schedule that more EV charging will bring.

    I hope your case helps enlighten our next generation of practitioners on the complexity and helps them improve the case for EVs.



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    Bruce Hartman
    Professor
    University of St. Francis
    Tucson, AZ United States
    bruce@ahartman.net
    website:http://drbrucehartman.net/brucewebsite/
    blog:http://supplychainandlogistics.org
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: teaching case study - EVs

    Posted 03-15-2024 16:11

    That was an interesting case study. My take from the article was more focused on the unconscious decoupling between the United States and China. This issue is bipartisan so clearly no way we could allow extending subsidies to Chinese automakers even if assembled in Mexico.  

    On a different note, I used to believe data analytics was a sort of panacea for business solutions, but I have been taking a management course at a local HBS club, and I am starting to think the case study approach might be a more effective method for "seeing" business problems from a bird's-eye view. Input on this?



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    Alberto Aparicio
    Data Analyst
    Charitable Adult Rides & Services, Inc.
    San Diego
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    Original Message


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