Mr. Brian Schwandt

From Fuel Economy to Energy Efficiency: Filtration Through the Power Transition for Vehicles and Equipment

<p class="font_8">For decades, filtration has played an important role in transportation energy efficiency. Air, fuel, lubricant, and other filtration systems protect critical components and maintain performance, but the restriction they introduce can also create parasitic losses that increase fuel consumption. The filtration industry has therefore continually worked to balance protection, efficiency, capacity, and restriction.</p>
<p class="font_8"><br></p>
<p class="font_8">As vehicles and equipment move through a "messy middle" of evolving power sources toward lower-carbon and zero-emission technologies, that challenge is changing rather than disappearing. Diesel and gasoline engines will coexist with renewable fuels, hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines, fuel cells, battery electric systems, and other emerging architectures. Each brings new filtration, separation, thermal-management, and contamination-control requirements.</p>
<p class="font_8"><br></p>
<p class="font_8">This presentation will explore the relationship between filtration and energy efficiency, beginning with lessons learned from conventional powertrains and considering how those principles may evolve for future vehicles and equipment. As onboard energy becomes increasingly valuable, advanced filtration solutions will need to provide required system protection while minimizing restriction, pumping power, weight, space, and other parasitic energy demands.</p>
<p class="font_8">The energy source may change, but the opportunity remains: protect the system while preserving the energy that powers it.</p>

Director of Research & Technology
Atmus Filtration Technologies, USA

Speaker Bio

Mr. Brian Schwandt is Director of Research & Technology at Atmus Filtration Technologies, where he leads global research, technology development, and innovation across filtration media, materials, separation science, product technology, and advanced engineering. During his 39-year career with Nelson Industries, Cummins Filtration, and Atmus, Brian has held leadership roles in research, quality, Six Sigma, crankcase ventilation product engineering, and product-focused technology development. He is a member of the company’s Inventor Hall of Fame, with 69 U.S. patents and additional global intellectual property, and is a two-time recipient of the Cummins Julius Perr Award. Brian is passionate about developing people and building the skills, confidence, and willingness to take thoughtful risks that lead to differentiated, commercially valuable technologies. Outside work, his priorities are faith, family, and safety—and his largest musky to date measured 54.5 inches.

Presentation time

December 8, 2026
10:40 am - 11:50 am EST

Abstract

For decades, filtration has played an important role in transportation energy efficiency. Air, fuel, lubricant, and other filtration systems protect critical components and maintain performance, but the restriction they introduce can also create parasitic losses that increase fuel consumption. The filtration industry has therefore continually worked to balance protection, efficiency, capacity, and restriction.

As vehicles and equipment move through a "messy middle" of evolving power sources toward lower-carbon and zero-emission technologies, that challenge is changing rather than disappearing. Diesel and gasoline engines will coexist with renewable fuels, hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines, fuel cells, battery electric systems, and other emerging architectures. Each brings new filtration, separation, thermal-management, and contamination-control requirements.

This presentation will explore the relationship between filtration and energy efficiency, beginning with lessons learned from conventional powertrains and considering how those principles may evolve for future vehicles and equipment. As onboard energy becomes increasingly valuable, advanced filtration solutions will need to provide required system protection while minimizing restriction, pumping power, weight, space, and other parasitic energy demands.

The energy source may change, but the opportunity remains: protect the system while preserving the energy that powers it.