Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm Talks SAE’s Role in EV Future During Government/Industry Meeting
Posted: January 21, 2022
As SAE International kicks off 2022 with its critical Government/Industry Meeting, one member of the presidential cabinet is touting the organization’s importance to the future of transportation in America.
“I know that SAE International and the Department of Energy really have a valued partnership that goes back for over two decades,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm during the event’s opening keynote session. “And I know that in that time, our program offices and our national labs have worked with you to develop standards that we’re still using today to keep our transportation sector secure and the American people safe. This is a really important relationship not just for the DOE, but for the entire country.”
Granholm emphasized the focus on vehicle electrification and clean energy that the Biden administration has, with a goal to cut emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Steps on that path include investments in battery improvements, building a national network of EV chargers, producing more sustainable aviation fuel to drive a reduction in aviation emissions, and creating EV tax credits and rebates to make these vehicles affordable for the middle class.
“We need SAE doing what it does best: weighing in on standards as we work to build out this national EV charging network. We need auto engineers and utilities working together to improve vehicle to grid integration so as the number of EVs on the road rise, we know that we’re going to be able to manage the demand that rises along with it. We need more data and information sharing to make improvements for these new low and aero emission technologies even easier,” Granholm said. “And of course, we need to hear from you about the issues that you can see, the help that you need, and the new partnerships that we can form. Because if we work together, I believe not only can we build a zero emission transportation sector, and not only can we do our part to overcome climate change, but we can turn this challenge that we face into the greatest opportunity of our lives.”