Join us at the inaugural MI Future Mobility Conference hosted by the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) on Oct. 24 at Newlab @ Michigan Central. This groundbreaking event will explore the transformative impact of mobility innovation across land, air, and sea on global communities. This conference will convene a diverse audience from across the mobility spectrum, including academia, industry leaders, startups, investors, and public sector partners. Together, we will delve into the latest advancements in mobility technology, the evolution of public-private partnerships, and the pivotal role of user experience in shaping the future of transportation.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has awarded 17 grants totaling $905,567 for EV charging stations to continue development of the multistate Lake Michigan Circuit initiative, an EV charging route along 1,100 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline to support coastal tourism in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. The states have partnered to create a scenic route with reliable charging stations at recreational areas, hospitality businesses, and entertainment attractions to provide EV drivers a long-distance road trip free from range anxiety. The grants will help install direct charge/fast charging stations and Level 2 chargers along the west coast of Michigan.

Michigan has received $657 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to retool existing factories for the transition to EVs and help the state build out its EV infrastructure while generating new jobs. The funding comes from the Biden-Harris administration’s Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grants for Electrified Vehicles program, which provides cost-shared grants for the made-in-America production of efficient hybrid, electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Grant funding will go to General Motors, who will receive $500 million to upgrade the Lansing Grand River Plant, and ZF North America, which will receive $157 million to modernize their Marysville facility.

The Michigan-backed clean hydrogen hub project, Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen (MachH2), has been awarded up to $1 billion by the U.S. DOE to develop regional supply chains for the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen in trucks and heavy-duty vehicles as well as other high-potential mobility applications.

As part of the project, the EGLE has issued a Request For Information (RFI) seeking preliminary feedback on issues pertaining to the deployment of a hydrogen refueling station based in Detroit, including for the hydrogen technology supply chain as well as from organizations with expertise to offer regarding equity, labor, and environmental justice concerns. Vendors interested in submitting to the RFI should do so by Friday, July 26. The RFI can be found in the state’s SIGMA Vendor Self-Service portal by selecting “View Published Solicitations” and searching for RFI# 240000000007.

2024

• July 25: Detroit Mobility Professionals - Rooftop Mixer
• Aug. 3: Michigan Electrical Vehicle Alliance's Clean Cruise
• Aug. 5-8: CAR Management Briefing Seminars
• Sept. 20-27: Ann Arbor SPARK’s a2Tech360
• Sept. 24-26: Forth Roadmap Conference
• Sept. 24-25: Move America
• Oct. 7-10: The Battery Show North America
• Oct. 21-23: Reuters Automotive USA 2024
• Oct. 24: MI Future Mobility Conference
• Nov. 12-13: American Automotive Summit
• Nov. 13-14: CoMotion LA

Consumers Energy Says It Will Ramp up Public EV Charging in Michigan | The Detroit News
Consumers Energy plans to add 1,500 EV public charging spaces in Michigan by the end of 2030, including offering rebates to 135 locations for public fast chargers capable of charging a vehicle in under 30 minutes.

Michigan Opens First Public EV Charging Network for Off-Road Vehicles | Bridge Michigan
Four public charging stations now dot the popular Pioneer ORV trail system in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, allowing for the use of electric off road vehicles in this region. Local outfitter Hamilton’s North Coast Adventures has partnered with Polaris to offer electric ORV rentals for use on the trails.

Michigan Central, State of Michigan Offering New Mobility Fellowships to Stem Grads | Crain’s Business
The Michigan Mobility Fellow Program, funded by OFME and Michigan Central Station, offers accepted participants a 15-month fellowship with a salary of $75,000 to gain experience in one of two tracks: Mobility x Society Innovators or Transportation and Mobility Planning. The program places fellows in emerging companies that can offer good experience but may be currently unable to afford the talent they need.

Michigan Central’s Newlab in Detroit Now Working With 100+ Startups | DBusiness
Michigan Central and Newlab opened in April of 2023 with an initial cohort of 25 partner companies - that number has now risen to over 100. To date Newlab has raised $688 million in venture capital and conducted 22 pilot programs.

• DriveElectric.gov – Information on all federal EV-related news and opportunities
• DOE Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding Opportunities – The latest notices and RFP opportunities for programs related to clean energy and lower carbon emissions
• Elemental Excelerator – Provides funding and in-depth support to promising climate technology startups with social impact potential
• The Ford Launchpad for Innovative Technologies and Entrepreneurship (FLITE) – Provides grants and pilot-testing opportunities to companies focused on bringing emerging air travel technology solutions to market
• Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) – A consortium bed by the Detroit Regional Partnership that is designed to help build an inclusive and prosperous 21st-century mobility sector
• H2 Matchmaker – An online resource to help hydrogen suppliers and users identify stakeholders across the supply chain
• MICHauto – Organization that promotes, retains, and grows Michigan’s signature industry as the state’s only automotive and mobility cluster association. View the MICHauto Automobility Asset Map for a look at the 250 locations that are active contributors to the EV industry.
• Michigan Mobility Funding Platform – Test site deployments and real-world deployments 
• Michigan EGLE: Charge Up Michigan – Opportunity to apply for funding 
• Mobility Makers – Community of professionals dedicated to sustainable mobility
• MotorCites National Heritage Area Events – A nonprofit corporation affiliated with the National Park Service that preserves, interprets and promotes the region’s rich automotive and labor heritage
• Plug and Play Tech Center Detroit – Resources for startups looking to reach OEMs and Tier 1 Suppliers
• URBAN-X Accelerator Program – Supports founders building businesses to solve cities’ toughest challenges in areas such as transportation and mobility, the built environment, food, waste and water and the energy grid