Ching-Chuen Chan

Ching-Chuen Chan (born January 1937), also known as C. C. Chan and Chan Ching-chuen, is an Indonesian-born Hong Kong electrical engineer and academic known for his work on electric vehicle technology. He was Honda Chair Professor of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong and founded the International Research Center for Electric Vehicles there in 1986.

Chan's research has focused on electric vehicles, electrical machines, and energy systems. Sources credit him with early work on the use of alternating current motors in electric vehicles, and he has authored or co-authored technical papers and books on electric vehicle technology. His father ran a taxi and bus business in Java. It was while visiting the business's garage that Chan became interested in cleaner running vehicles that would be free of smoke and oil.

With the need for rebuilding after World War II, Chan was motivated to pursue a career in engineering with an interest in alternative energy sources. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1957 from China University of Mining & Technology. In 1959, he earned his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University. In 1982, he completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Hong Kong.

Career Chan's influence on electric vehicles dates back to the 1970s during the oil crisis. A test center for electric vehicles was established in Hawaii. As a published author on electric vehicles, Chan was sought out by the US for his expertise. At the university, he became a Senior Lecturer, Reader, and ultimately served as the Honda Chair Professor of Engineering from 1994 to 2002. During this time, he also held the position of Head of the Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering from 1994 to 2000.

In addition to academics, Chan served in government bodies and corporations. He was appointed by the Ministry of Science and Technology as a Chief Panelist of the "863" Key National Project Plan from 2001 to 2005. Chan also held positions as a Director at Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. and then a Director at Rotoblock Corp. from 2005 to 2011.

Contributions and recognition Ching-Chuen Chan is considered a pioneer of modern electric vehicles for being the first to use alternating current (AC) in electric car motors. Over the years, he has been credited with over 400 technical papers, 11 books, and holds 10 patents that are licensed in both Japanese and Chinese industries. In 2013, he received the World Federation of Engineering Organizations Medal of Engineering Excellence, followed by the Royal Academy of Engineering Prince Philip Medal in 2014. He received the Guanghua Engineering Science and Technology Prize in 2016,