U-M EV Center Director Alan Taub Outlines Vision for Sustainable Mobility at Propulsion Strategies Conference

At the 17th Annual Propulsion Strategies for the 21st Century hybrid conference, held July 16 at the University of Michigan, Professor Alan Taub, director of the U-M Electric Vehicle Center, delivered a keynote address on the urgent need to accelerate the shift to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) – while keeping consumer satisfaction, energy resilience, and long-term sustainability at the forefront.

Taub framed the transition to electric mobility as a complex systems challenge. “We can’t just electrify vehicles,” he said. “We need clean electricity production, a robust grid, accessible charging, and cost parity with internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrids.” Addressing 21st-century transportation issues – including congestion, safety, emissions, and energy security – will require a fully integrated approach, he emphasized.

He pointed to the Electric Vehicle Center’s cross-disciplinary strategy as a model for this kind of transformation. Drawing on U-M’s deep bench of faculty expertise in battery science, manufacturing, power electronics, lifecycle sustainability, and workforce development, the EVC is helping chart the roadmap for Michigan to become the E-Motor Capital.

Taub shared recent milestones, including the opening of the Center’s new Ellsworth Battery Lab – a state-of-the-art, pilot-scale facility now taking reservations from industry and academic partners nationwide. He also highlighted collaborative efforts to reduce lifecycle emissions, advance solid-state batteries, and improve the overall cost of BEV ownership.

Throughout his talk, Taub stressed that a successful transition must consider the entire battery lifecycle, including end-of-life strategies and critical mineral sourcing. “Replacing a battery mid-life is not economically viable,” he said. “We have to design for the full vehicle lifespan – and think beyond recycling. The real opportunity is in repurposing and rejuvenation.”

On global materials strategy, he underscored the importance of diversification and ethical sourcing:
Battery innovation isn’t just about chemistry – it’s about ethics, resilience, and long-term strategy.

Taub closed with a challenge and a vision: “We can’t ask consumers to give up what they love. We must deliver not only a better vehicle but a better charging experience – at home, at work, and on the road.”