RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Joins Secretary Buttigieg, Detroit Mayor Duggan, and Canadian Minister of Transport to Announce First U.S.-Canada Electric Vehicle Corridor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2023

Gov. Whitmer Joins Secretary Buttigieg, Detroit Mayor Duggan, and Canadian Minister of Transport to Announce First U.S.-Canada Electric Vehicle Corridor

Michigan’s mobility and electrification leadership grows with federal, international collaboration

DETROIT, Mich.-- Today, Governor Whitmer joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, and Mayor Mike Duggan in Detroit to announce the first Binational Electric Vehicle Corridor between the U.S. and Canada. The new electric vehicle corridor will stretch from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Quebec City, Quebec, tapping into the 75,000+ miles of Alternative Fuel Corridors in the United States. The Corridor will feature DC fast chargers approximately every 50 miles, or 80 kilometers.

“There’s nothing more Pure Michigan than accidentally driving into Canada, and now that journey will be electric on either side of the border,” said Governor Whitmer. “I am proud that we are working together to build up electric vehicle charging infrastructure. With the resources headed our way from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the bold investments Michigan automakers are making right here in Michigan, we will build and lead the future of mobility.”

"The U.S. and Canada have long enjoyed a productive partnership on transportation issues and in that spirit we are proud to announce the first-ever U.S.-Canada EV Corridor,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “With historic investments in EV infrastructure from the Biden-Harris Administration and the Canadian government, we are creating a new generation of good-paying manufacturing jobs, making it possible for drivers everywhere to reap the benefits and savings of these vehicles while helping us fight climate change.”

“Canada and the United States have built the world's largest market-based energy trading relationship, which provides a firm foundation as we strive to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions,” said Canadian Minister of Transport, Omar Algbhabra. “This first cross-border alternative fuel corridor will help drivers to travel across the border and charge or refuel worry-free. It contributes to bringing us another step closer to making our air cleaner while helping people save money on traditional fuels.”

“Today's announcement of the first U.S. Binational EV Corridor is a huge step into the future of zero-emissions transportation and commerce,” said Mayor Duggan. “This corridor will carry the flow of EV traffic, trade, and manufacturing between the United States and Canada, through the Detroit's international crossing with Windsor.  We owe our thanks to Sec. Buttigieg for his vision and President Biden for making this advancement possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Investments in Michigan

In 2021, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that includes $7.5 billion in federal funding to create a national network of 500,000 public electric vehicle charging stations, of which Michigan is expected to receive at least $110 million. This initiative will make electric vehicle charging easier and facilitate the movement of passengers and goods through a key economic binational corridor in for the sustainable future.

Today’s announcement builds on President Biden’s March visit to Canada, where he and Prime Minister Trudeau committed to work together to harmonize electric vehicle charging standards and develop cross-border alternative fuel corridors between the U.S. and Canada, further strengthening the world’s largest market-based energy trading relationship.

Michigan Winning the Future

A report from the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), found that Michigan has won $16.6 billion of projects creating 16,300 jobs as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the state’s economic development efforts. Another report from Climate Power found that Michigan continues to lead the race for jobs and investment in the electric vehicle industry.

State Action to Lead Future of Mobility and Electrification

In March, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) announced the launch of a new website, Michigan.gov/EVJobsAcademy, to connect Michiganders to good-paying career opportunities in the rapidly expanding automotive mobility and electrification industry.

In April, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Michigan Office of Mobility & Electrification (OFME), and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) announced a partnership to create the State of Michigan Community EV Toolkit, an online resource hub for local governments to prepare for the future of electric vehicle (EV) deployment and adoption. 

This month, Michigan officials issued a issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)  for Round 1 of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Grant program. 

Electric Vehicle and Battery Project Wins  

Since Governor Whitmer brought bipartisan leaders and private sector partners to establish powerful economic development tools in December 2021, Michigan has secured more than $16 billion of projects and more than 16,000 jobs, cementing the state's position as a global leader in the future of mobility and electrification. This includes:  

January 2022: General Motors announced a $7 billion investment creating 4,000 and retaining 1,000 jobs, to convert Orion Township assembly plant to build full-size electric vehicle pickups and build Ultium’s third U.S. battery cell plant in Lansing. 
March 2022: LG Energy Solution announced a $1.7 billion expansion creating 1,200 jobs in Holland manufacturing batteries.
June 2022: Ford announced a $2 billion investment to create 3,200 jobs in plants across Michigan to support electric vehicle manufacturing and secure their internal combustion engine portfolio in the state. 
June 2022: Canadian electric vehicle charging network operator FLO announced an investment of $3 million for the company’s first-ever U.S. manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills. 
October 2022: Michigan-based Our Next Energy announced a $1.6 billion investment to establish its first cell and electric vehicle battery pack gigafactory in Van Buren Township, creating up to 2,112 jobs. 
October 2022: Gotion announced a $2.36 billion investment for a new manufacturing facility in Big Rapids, creating 2,350 jobs.
February 2023: Ford announced a $3.5 billion investment creating 2,500 jobs to build a new electric vehicle battery facility called BlueOval Battery Park in Marshall.

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