Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have received a $500,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to continue their work designing smart cities with infrastructure and policies that support the creation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging station network within Michigan and throughout the U.S.

“The goal of this NSF project is to advance the understanding of and develop tools to guide how EV charging infrastructure impacts the sustainability and equity of people between urban and rural regions. The investment in EV charging infrastructure not only reflects financial and economic decisions but also environmental and social decisions, as they influence regional sustainability and equity across urban and rural areas,” said Dong Zhao, associate professor at MSU’s School of Planning, Design, and Construction.

In collaboration with the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation and Michigan Central, Newlab is looking for startup companies to support the launch of several pilot programs in 2023 focused on improving pedestrian safety and sustainable fresh food delivery for Detroit residents.

This will be a unique opportunity for startups to collaborate with local partners and develop integrated solutions which will be tested, validated, and scaled in real-world environments in Detroit. Benefits to participation include:

• Experience taking a systems-level approach to innovating with other startups and partners
• Access to grant funding to offset some of the pilot costs
• Support with pilot activation and project management
• Complimentary membership to Newlab for the duration of the pilot

Applications will be accepted through Dec. 14.

2022

• November 18-27: Los Angeles Auto Show
• December 5-9: Automotive World Future Mobility North America
• December 8: MICHauto Summit

2023

• January 5-8: CES Las Vegas
• February 24-March 5: Cleveland Auto Show
• March 6-7: Electric Vehicles Battery Tech USA
• March 14-16: SAE International AeroTech
• April 4-5: Global Symposium on Mobility Innovation
• April 18-20: SAE International WCX
• May 9-11: Financial Times Live Future of the Car
• May 9-11: AutoSens in Detroit
• May 16-18: Autonomous Vehicles Silicon Valley

• 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
• 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
• Michigan Mobility Funding Platform – Test site deployments and real-world deployments
• Michigan STEM Forward Internships – A statewide partnership between the MEDC and Ann Arbor SPARK which aims to connect the brightest upcoming talent with innovative and growing companies throughout Michigan
• Bamboo Detroit Mobility Founders Hour – Join a bimonthly, virtual meetup for founders and leaders of high-growth mobility startups to connect, share resources, and meet special guest speakers
• NAIAS Applications for Technology Startup Exhibitors – Applications are now open for technology startups to exhibit at the upcoming auto show this fall
• Plug and Play Tech Center Detroit powered by AmplifyD – Resources for startups looking to reach OEMs and Tier 1 Suppliers
• Michigan EGLE: Charge Up Michigan – Opportunity to apply for funding
• Mobility Makers – Community of professionals dedicated to sustainable mobility
• Ongoing Funding Opportunities through NextEnergy

Michigan School Districts to Receive 138 New Electric School Buses | MLive
Dozens of new electric school buses will be coming to Michigan after authorities announced the state will receive more than $50 million as part of a $1 billion funding round awarded through a federal program. Michigan will receive 138 new electric school buses at 25 school districts, in addition to the existing 17 electric school buses located throughout seven districts in the state.

The federal program was designed to accelerate the decarbonization of the transportation sector and improve air quality for schoolchildren and neighborhoods nationwide by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Michigan Test Drives Country’s First Mobility Officer | Route Fifty
Trevor Pawl is the state of Michigan’s chief mobility officer, a first-of-its-kind role that has gained outsized importance as the auto industry reinvents itself. Trevor hopes transformations in the automotive industry will help state government replace “Depression Era departmental structures” with more nimble organizations. The structures of state government itself have had to change to help Michigan adapt, Pawl said, and so has the state’s relationships with private industry, university researchers, and even neighboring states.

Hydrogen Could be Critical Fuel for Trucks, Ferries and Freighters in Michigan | Hydrogen Central
Hydrogen produced from clean energy might become the best future fuel for various types of trucks, long-range ferries, and even freighters on the Great Lakes.

Researchers at the University of Michigan studied hydrogen’s potential role in the clean-energy transition away from fossil fuels, exploring ways the planet’s lightest element could power heavy-duty trucking and shipping. The best hydrogen-fuel potential in Michigan’s future is in the transportation sector, specifically medium- and heavy-duty trucks on interstate highways, the study found.

Serious Green: Billions Pouring Into Outdoor Recreation, Mobility And Technology In Michigan | Traverse City Business News
Billions of dollars are being invested throughout Michigan to design, develop, and build the next generation of clean-energy mobility.

Combined, General Motors and Ford Motor Company are investing $9 billion dollars for EV and battery cell production. Gotion just announced a $2.4 billion investment for EV battery production in Big Rapids, and Hemlock Semiconductor is spending $375 million to increase semiconductor production capacity in Southeast Michigan.

These are huge wins for the state that put the world on wheels a century ago and now leads in the global transformation of mobility, from fossil fuels to EV technology and production.