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Monday, August 10, 2009

MTU to receive grant for advanced electric drive vehicle program

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) announced that Michigan Technological University (MTU) has been awarded $2.98 million to help fund the university’s advanced electric drive vehicle education program. The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"This investment in Michigan Tech is an important step toward producing and researching clean energy right here in Michigan," Stupak said. "U.S. batteries and electric vehicles have shown promise as a way to help our environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This funding reaffirms that Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula in particular, will continue to be a leader in developing clean energy jobs."

DOE announced $2.4 billion in grants, with $875 million going to 12 Michigan companies and universities in cities across the state. The funding is intended to accelerate the manufacturing and deployment of the next generation of U.S. batteries and electric vehicles through advanced battery manufacturing, electric drive components manufacturing and transport electrification.

Michigan Technological University will use its grant money to institute an electric vehicle engineering degree program for students, including an interdisciplinary master’s and engineering degree and graduate and undergraduate certificates in Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Engineering. It will also provide a comprehensive electric vehicle distance learning program to train engineers currently working in the industry. MTU is proposing unique outreach opportunities to the public and K-12 students through a mobile laboratory and showcase to promote and raise broad awareness for transportation sustainability through electric propulsion systems. Demonstrations will be conducted in Houghton as well as in the Detroit metro area.

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