CLEARING THE PATH TO WIDESPREAD ELECTRIFICATION AND DYNAMIC CHARGING Established in 2020, Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification, or ASPIRE, is a National Science Foundation-funded research center headquartered on the Utah State University campus. Its main purpose is to support the widespread adoption of electric transportation through developing technologies and clearing barriers leading to low-cost, universal charging infrastructure. ASPIRE is comprised of 10 total universities – five partner universities – Utah State University, Purdue University, University of Colorado Boulder, The University of Texas at El Paso, and University of Auckland, New Zealand – and five additional affiliated campuses, including Cornell University, Virginia Tech, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Colorado State University. More than 60 industry, government and nonprofit members from all sectors of electric transportation assist and collaborate with projects as a part of ASPIRE’s Industry and Innovation Board, including four national labs – National Renewable Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, Oakridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory. As a research center, ASPIRE is organized around five thrusts: Adoption, Power, Equity, Data and Transportation. Each is an important part of the ASPIRE research portfolio with ties to interrelated projects ranging from charging stations and electrified roadways to learning and engagement. The Adoption Thrust explores the impacts that society and industry have on the adoption of transformative technology. By ASPIRE Staff, Dr. Marv Halling, Utah State University, and Dr. John Haddock, Purdue University This can include interest groups such as policymakers and corporations. The Equity Thrust focuses on K-12 engineering education, community engagement and diversity to ensure people of all groups are involved, while the Data Thrust utilizes experts in the field to create multi-model data fusion, theory and application, network systems optimization and much more. The Power Thrust addresses technical questions related to hosting electric vehicles within transportation and electric power distribution networks. Those involved in this thrust seek to integrate static and dynamic power into grid management systems and control of vehicle batteries. Lastly, the Transportation Thrust focuses on two aspects of the transportation sector – electrified infrastructure and systems. The main challenge for pavement integration is finding practical solutions that can readily be adopted by the industry, public agencies and stakeholders. The ASPIRE Research Center has a number of electric vehicles used for demonstrations, including a fully electric bus. ASPIRE: 6
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