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Tech developing electric vehicle demonstration testbed in the Upper Cumberland region

Pingen Chen, mechanical engineering assistant professor and Center for Manufacturing
Research faculty associate--along with co-principal investigators Stephen Canfield,
mechanical engineering professor; Vahid Motevalli, associate dean of Engineering; Indranil
Bhattacharya, electrical and computer engineering associate professor; and Olorunfemi
Ojo, electrical and computer engineering professor--are working with the U.S. Department
of Energy to create a proof-of-concept demonstration testbed for electric vehicles
and charging infrastructures in the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee, which is
a rural and economically distressed area. The project will provide the experience,
research, demonstrations and educational opportunities needed to address the adoption
of EVs. Comprehensive data will be collected and analyzed to report the operation
cost, issues and performance of EVs to help potential fleet owners and the public
make informed decisions before making a significant financial investment in EVs for
rural areas.