Transportation industry electrification is undergoing a radical change. Plug-in electric vehicle (EV) production has been growing substantially worldwide over the past ten years and is projected to grow even more over the next decade. Alabama has a thriving automotive, and industrial ecosystem with manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota committed to electrification. Alabama automakers produce nearly 1 million cars and light-trucks per year. Alabama is also the country’s third top auto exporter, producing $8.3 billion in vehicles and parts in 2020.
With this level of dedication and the existing leadership within the coalition of partners, there is substantial potential for success in manufacturing, distributing, and deploying electric vehicles and infrastructure. Alabama has the potential to be among the nation’s leaders in transportation electrification, but only if it has a highly skilled workforce and a commitment to advancing electric vehicles and related power grid technologies. Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) is currently undergoing a $1 billion expansion to support electric vehicle production, and if Alabama is to maintain and grow its market share, additional investment is needed.
A new partnership between The University of Alabama, Alabama Power (AP), and MBUSI seeks to create a premier research and development hub. The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama recently approved forming the Alabama Mobility and Power Center to be a world-class research and development hub for creating and sustaining modern mobility and power technologies, developing charging infrastructure and managing power delivery to support large-scale growth in electric vehicles. The Alabama Mobility and Power Center (AMP) will position UA to play a critical role in supporting private and government investment in new battery technologies and securing an efficient EV charging infrastructure for the state. In a joint effort, UA, AP, and MBUSI have developed and structured the AMP Center with core research topics and collaborative topics that involve many existing UA institutes, centers, and department activities. The AMP Center will be organized under the Alabama Transportation Institute at UA and housed in the recently approved Smart Communities and Innovation Building.
