On 8th August 2026, the Department of Engineering Design at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India, inaugurated the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) and IEEE Transportation Electrification Council (TEC) Student Branch Chapter (SBC) during the one-day workshop titled “Towards Smart and Sustainable Charging Infrastructure.” The event brought together faculty members, researchers, students, and industry professionals to commemorate the establishment of a new platform dedicated to promoting technical activities, knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and student engagement in power electronics and transportation electrification.
FIG 1 More than 70 students and faculty members participated in the inaugural ceremony of the IEEE Joint PELS and TEC SBC of the IIT Madras (Source: Dr. Deepak Ronanki).
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. Apparao Dekka, Associate Professor at Lakehead University, Canada, and Ms. Sri Sai Lahari Kommuri, Deputy Manager at Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Pvt Ltd, India. The speakers introduced participants to the vision, activities, and objectives of IEEE PELS and TEC, emphasizing the increasing global significance of power electronics and transportation electrification. They highlighted the important role of IEEE technical societies in fostering research, innovation, professional development, and collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals. The newly inaugurated SBC at IIT Madras aims to provide a platform for technical seminars, workshops, research interactions, and professional development activities, while strengthening connections between academia, industry, and the broader IEEE community.
Industry and Academia Talks
The inauguration was followed by industry-focused technical sessions that offered participants insights into the practical challenges and emerging requirements of electrified transportation.
Dr. Harish Karneddi, Senior Business R&D Professional from Hitachi Energy, discussed developments in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with particular emphasis on wide voltage range battery chargers. His session highlighted the need for flexible charging technologies that can accommodate the evolving voltage and power requirements of EVs.
Dr. Deepak Ronanki presented a technical session on the emerging requirements for high-power and megawatt-level EV charging systems. The talk discussed the rising power demands of heavy-duty electrification and the technological challenges in developing scalable charging infrastructure, including wireless and opportunity charging technologies.
Dr. Apparao Dekka delivered a technical talk titled “Predictive Control of Power Converters for High Power Charging Infrastructure.” The session explored advanced predictive control strategies for power electronic converters, with a focus on modular power converters and their control for next-generation high-power charging systems.
FIG 2 Industry talk by Dr. Harish Karneddi (left), Academic talks by Dr. Deepak Ronanki (middle) and Dr. Apparao Dekka (right).
IEEE Associate Editors’ Meet
The workshop also featured an IEEE Associate Editors’ Meet with Dr. Deepak Ronanki (Area Editor, TTE and Associate Editor, TPEL), Dr. Apparao Dekka (Associate Editor, TPEL and Associate Editor, TTE), Dr. Harish Karneddi (Associate Editor, TTE), and Dr. Atriya Biswas (Associate Editor, TTE). The session provided valuable insights into research communication, technical writing, literature review, manuscript preparation, and common publication practices. Participants also gained a practical understanding of the IEEE peer-review process and were encouraged to actively review technical manuscripts by evaluating their novelty, technical soundness, clarity, and presentation. Along with the inauguration of the IEEE PELS and TEC Student Branch Chapter, the session strengthened IEEE engagement and research activities at IIT Madras.
FIG 3 IEEE Associate Editors’ Meet and Panel Discussion by (from left corner) Dr. Atriya Biswas, Dr. Harish Karneddi, Dr. Deepak Ronanki, and Dr. Apparao Dekka.
About the Author
Deepak Ronanki ([email protected]) received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Canada, in 2019. He is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, India. He has published more than 150 peer-reviewed technical papers, 15 patents (filed/issued), and 10 book chapters. He is currently serving as an Area Editor for IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification and an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics.