The National Science Foundation is providing a five-year, $26 million grant to establish an engineering research center for sustainable, electrified transportation. The center, called Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), will focus on developing new infrastructure that facilitates widespread electric vehicle adoption. It’s slated to open September 1.

• Purdue University is the only Midwest-based founding institution named in the new public-private collaboration, although Argonne National Laboratory and some Midwest companies — including Cummins and John Deere — are named as strategic partners.
• The research center expects to raise more than $200 million in the next 10 years from government and industry support.
• The center will engage with educational and mentoring opportunities for students at all levels to boost STEM skills and interest in related careers.
• “Although the emergence of electric vehicles has shown capabilities of decreasing energy use and emissions levels, the EV market is developing slowly, due mainly to drivers’ range anxiety and to charging time,” Nadia Gkritza, Purdue professor of civil engineering and agricultural and biological engineering, said in a news release.

***SPONSORED LINK: The Rise Up! podcast brings real-time, relevant energy and policy information to Midwest stakeholders through an engaging and entertaining medium. Episode 4: “Credit Where Credit is Due” with special guest Andy Johnson is out now! #RiseUpMidwest***

Today’s headlines:

🌞 SOLAR: National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers have discovered a process with potential for extracting more energy from molecules, which could lead to super-efficient solar cells.

🎉 NEW PRODUCT: Generac Power Systems, headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, unveils a suite of products that can be integrated into a smart whole-home solar power and storage solution.

🤝 CORPORATE COMMITMENT: Chicago energy company Exelon is sponsoring a five-year initiative to accelerate development of low-carbon energy technologies in the electric and gas sectors. The Low-Carbon Resources Initiative is an effort of Des Plaines, Illinois-based GTI and the Electric Power Research Institute.

Let me know about Midwest tech news I should cover in Centered. Send news tips, press releases, and feedback via email to katie@centered.tech or connect on LinkedIn and Twitter @centereddottech.