AECOM announced Utah State University was awarded a five-year, $26-million grant, renewable to 10 years and $50.6 million, from the National Science Foundation to establish an international research center dedicated to advancing sustainable, electrified transportation. ASPIRE — Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification — will focus on developing new infrastructure that facilitates widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

As a global industry partner, AECOM is aligned to the mission and vision of the ASPIRE Engineering Research Center — to improve health and quality of life by catalyzing sustainable and equitable electrification across the transportation industry.

Charging technology is a crucial component of the infrastructure needed to advance vehicle electrification. AECOM’s technical experts have partnered with Utah State University to advance research in electric vehicle technology, including conducting studies across the U.S., that investigate how wireless dynamic power transfer technology could be used in real world application. In Southern California, AECOM and ASPIRE partners, Utah State University, Purdue University, and Colorado State University jointly studied four major corridors for anticipated demand, implementation strategy, and business case of dynamic wireless charging with additional research in Illinois and Colorado.

AECOM participates alongside industry experts and members of the center to promote thought leadership and technical papers that explore the use of dynamic wireless charging technology for many of its clients, including transit agencies, fleet owners, and logistics companies.

ASPIRE is expected to raise more than $200 million over the next decade in government and industry support.