Synopsis
The DRIVE Coalition assembles nearly every heavy hitter and promising upstart in Alabama’s nascent vehicle electrification industry. Our partners come from the public and private sectors, from education and industry, from research and practice — all with the shared mission to revitalize Alabama’s rural economies by providing free and low-cost technical training and creating well-paying jobs. Our nine component projects promise to reach 27 counties in the underserved Wider West Alabama region, including 23 persistent poverty counties and 12 coal-impacted communities. Closely aligned with local CEDS, our goal is to lay the groundwork over the next four years to impact 50,000 job aspirants within the decade through training, credentialing, and job creation, as well as to build an enduring pathway to economic success for future generations.
The Right Place
A revolution in vehicle electrification is stirring, and every indication places its epicenter in Wider West Alabama. The region’s five major automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are all highly motivated to recruit skilled workers. Our unemployed and underemployed population”—”a treasure trove of untapped human capital”—”is eager to up-skill and unite around a shared mission. All that separates the two is a modest skills gap, which can be bridged by our educational and community partners. Alabama’s potential has been recognized by our state’s leaders. In 2020, the state established the AL Innovation Commission (Innovate Alabama) and invested in the Tuscaloosa Innovation District’s AL Mobility and Power (AMP) Center to provide regional leadership and coordination for vehicle electrification.
To create public awareness, education, and excitement, Governor Ivey recently released the “Drive Electric Alabama” media campaign. To address the major barriers to electric vehicle (EV) adoption, The AL Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) unveiled a state- wide EV infrastructure plan. The push comes from industry as well as the state. Each of the state’s five automotive OEMs plan not only to ramp up production of EVs, but also to continue making significant investments in the state to build their production capacities. For example, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (MBUSI), Alabama’s largest OEM, is currently undertaking a $1.2 billion expansion to its equipment and facilities, in order to support EV production. Similarly, Hyundai is investing $7.4 billion globally to build EVs, and a substantial portion of this investment is expected to go to its Montgomery, AL plant.