News + Viewpoints

Feb 09, 2026

ACT Expo Event

Date: May 4 – May 7 2026 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Now in its 16th year, ACT Expo is the one event fleet leaders can’t afford to miss. More than 12,000 industry stakeholders will gather to explore the latest in zero-emission vehicles, AI, autonomy, connected and software-defined fleets, renewable fuels, and advanced infrastructure solutions. Learn […]

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From the Grid

Follow @nextenergy for a closer look at the people and projects driving change.

Have you seen an autonomous robot driving around downtown Detroit? It’s part of a pilot program to repurpose restaurant food waste, turning kitchen scraps into coasters and other products restaurants can reuse. The robot picks up food waste from San Morello and takes it to the Urban Tech Xchange, where it is upcycled and repurposed. Funding for this project comes from a @michiganegle circular economy grant. “The goal of the Urban Tech Xchange is to provide a space where sustainable building innovations can thrive in the city of Detroit,” said Kevin Mull, senior director of urban strategy and innovation for Bedrock. “This Circular Economy grant enables us to utilize Bedrock’s Urban Tech Xchange and San Morello to not only reduce harmful carbon emissions and pollutants that come out of landfills, but to give back to small businesses that are the backbone of the economy. We can’t wait to see Ecosphere Organics and Orange Sparkle Ball collaborate in this space, helping to create a healthier future for Detroit residents and business owners.” Thank you to all the partners who made this project happen, including NextEnergy, Bedrock, NoHo Hospitality Group, Orange Sparkle Ball, and Ecosphere Organics. #urbantechxchange #mobility #circulareconomy #upcycling #autonomousvehicles #smartcities #detroit We are excited to support @volt.post in their first EV charging station deployment in Michigan! This first installation is at the @american_center_for_mobility and there will be more coming to the Detroit region in the near future. #electricvehicles #chargingstation #detroitsmartparkinglab Good luck to our interns Chi Ndeh-Zama and Alex Oguejiofor! Both Chi and Alex recently graduated from the @waynestate @waynestateeng and now are off to continue their careers! These stellar interns were instrumental in many projects including several at the Urban Tech Xchange where we filmed this quick video. #mobility #electricvehicles #engineering #detroit #internships #careers Join us in welcoming @itselectric_co to Detroit! The company will install electric vehicle charging stations across the city to provide Detroiters greater access to EV charging solutions. Video features interviews with our Lauren Mattar and Kevin Mull from @bedrockdetroit, and Donte Harris from its electric. #mobility #electricvehicles #detroitsmartparkinglab #evcharging Michigan Clean Cities was in Dearborn this week for the ribbon-cutting of Dearborn Public Schools’ 18 new electric school buses. We are proud to support these deployments across the state with our fellow advocates in the It’s Electric coalition, including Highland Electric Fleet, which supported these 18 new buses. Another awesome #mobility development happening in Michigan! Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) now features #autonomous wheelchair service for eligible passengers on Delta flights. We were there for the official press conference and to share our role in this new pilot. @jolenelorraine took a test ride and shared the story with us. About the program: @unifiaviation in partnership with WHILL and DTW, have launched this pilot program with the goals of enhancing #accessibility, improving operational efficiency, and elevating the passenger experience. #smartcities #autonomousvehicles #detroit #micromobility Meet Jolene Castillo, our project manager working with Mapless AI and Sway Mobility as they launch Corktown Carshare in Detroit. #mobility #autonomousvehicles #electricvehicle #smartcities Congrats to our partners Mapless AI and Sway Mobility on launching Corktown Carshare! #detroit #mobility #autonomousvehicles #electricvehicle #teleoperation Pass the Phone: NextEnergy edition! At our annual holiday party our team took some time to share 2024’s achievements and accomplishments. (And in case you’re wondering, our President and CEO Jim Saber who would end the video!) We are excited for everything coming up in 2025! . . . . . . . #michigancleancities #utx #detroitsmartparkinglab #dspl #electricvehicles #evcharging #smartcities #cleanfuels #cleancities #autonomousvehicles The third annual EV road trip stopped in Detroit this week! We talked to Daphne Dixon, executive director of the Clean Transportation Coalition - Western Connecticut about the importance of electric vehicles and the road trip’s goals. #electricvehicles #roadtrip #EVcharging #MichiganCleanCities To celebrate a busy July, we take a look back at our work with @orangesparkleball who launched a successful pilot program with their automated robot picking up and disposing waste from @northcorktown residents. Here is the full video breaking down how the pilot works, how people could participate, and where all that waste goes! Introducing the first U.S.-built automated electric bus, coming to the Sleeping Bear Dunes Aug. 14! Chief Mobility Officer Justine Johnson shared some details of this announcement in Lansing, thanking @adasteccorp, Vicinity Motor Corp, and others for this big achievement. Our Helena Metka was on location to check out the bus and listen in on the press conference. #nationalparks #autonomousvehicles #electricbus @michiganbusiness Learn more about the @orangesparkleball food waste pickup pilot in @northcorktown! It’s available to all residents in the neighborhood - all they have to do is schedule a time for the robot to roll up to their house and collect their food waste! #foodwaste #sustainability #environment #robots #northcorktown #innovation #technology #michiganmobilityfundingplatform The Detroit Smart Parking Lab welcomes four new startups to its portfolio, operating under the lab’s recently formed “Autonomous Movement Initiative.” They will deploy, test, and demonstrate the latest tech related to autonomous and EV charging solutions over the next six months. 🤖ALBA Robot 🚗AuTowed LLC 🚛ION Dynamics ⚡️Joule Labs We participated in the Nikola Vehicles and Alta e-mobility ride and drive at the M1 Concourse. Can’t wait for these vehicles to be on Michigan roads! The future of freight is clean, efficient, and QUIET for both fuel cell and battery electric!