State and industry leaders gathered Monday at the Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center in Tuscaloosa to discuss the center’s work to support Alabama’s automotive industry through research and innovation in the electric vehicle (EV) space.
The AMP Center is 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 AMP Center was founded through a partnership between The University of Alabama, Alabama Power, and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International to create a premier research and development hub for electric vehicle and mobility innovation.
The AMP Center is organized under the Alabama Transportation Institute at the University of Alabama.
“Today, we’re not just flipping the on switch at AMP — we’re powering up possibilities and driving mobility to new heights,” AMP Executive Director Mike Oatridge said.
“Welcome to AMP, where energy and mobility meet innovation.”
Four themes of the AMP Center include:
- Preparing the electric vehicle workforce
- Driving collaborations between industry and the University of Alabama
- Creating innovations in battery manufacturing and use
- Developing effective and sustainable vehicle charge infrastructure
“The innovative thinking and collaboration that we see happening within the walls of the AMP Center can be transformative in advancing research & development in the electric vehicle technology and market,” said Federico Kochlowski, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International.
“The Mercedes-Benz collaboration with The AMP Center and its workforce development and training components underscores our commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders in the tech space,” he added. “We look forward to the development that will come about from this partnership.”
Mercedes produces two EVs at its Tuscaloosa County manufacturing facility — the EQS and EQE luxury SUVs — and operates a battery factory in Bibb County.
As one of the nation’s top manufacturers of automobiles, Alabama is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the rise in EV technology and increase its manufacturing base to support this industry and create jobs and investment into the state’s economy.
In addition to Mercedes, Hyundai also produces EVs in Alabama.
“As the nation’s No. 1 auto-exporting state, auto manufacturing is the lifeblood of Alabama’s economy,” said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “As virtually every auto manufacturer across the globe plans to electrify their fleets, capitalizing on EV production will be critical in making sure we remain at the top of the pack in this emerging industry.
“The cutting-edge research and innovation at the AMP Center will play a key role in positioning Alabama to be a leader in EV manufacturing,” she added.
Leigh Davis, senior vice president of Customer Solutions and Business Development at Alabama Power, said the utility is a strong believer in creating partnerships and bringing industry experts together to drive innovation and economic growth across the state of Alabama.
“The AMP Center is a perfect example of such a partnership,” Davis said. “We are proud to support this cutting-edge electric vehicle hub and are excited to see the impact it will have on Alabama’s EV industry and economy for years to come.”
This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
