Regional Electric Transportation Experts Gather at Duke University

More than 70 people convened at Duke University and virtually on April 3 to highlight successes, challenges and opportunities across research, industry and policy on regional electric mobility in the Southeast.

The April 2025 Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI) meeting provided an information-sharing forum for a multisector group of electric mobility organizations from across the region. SETRI is a collaborative network connecting, informing and advancing transportation electrification in the Southeast. The event was hosted by the Duke University Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute, in collaboration with SETRI partner organizations.

“Bringing this multisector community together is important to share ideas on how to best advance electric mobility—a key emerging industry in the southeastern United States and important strategy for reducing transportation emissions,” said Trey Gowdy, Nicholas Institute research lead and SETRI co-facilitator.

Throughout the morning, speakers shared insights about the electric vehicle (EV) landscape in North Carolina and throughout the Southeast, the state of the EV market and manufacturing, charging infrastructure, consumer education and local engagement and more. The event also featured a poster session, networking and an electric vehicle display.

SETRI organizers announced during the meeting that the Southeast Portal for Electric Transportation Opportunities has shared more than 500 opportunities since launching two years ago. The portal lists active funding sources, comment solicitations, research opportunities, events and other timely information related to transportation electrification in the region.

“A focus of the SETRI network has been to deepen connections within our region, with the aim of accelerating progress between utilities, charging companies, investors, NGOs and universities. It was great to be in Durham after our session in Atlanta last year,” said Richard Simmons, principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute and SETRI co-facilitator.

North Carolina EV Landscape

North Carolina surpassed 100,000 electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the bulk of which are battery electric, noted keynote speaker Ryan Brumfield (N.C. Department of Transportation). Brumfield told attendees that initiatives are underway to expand mobility choice and charging infrastructure across the state, including charging stations along highway corridors.

EV Market and Manufacturing

Battery prices have fallen each year over the last decade, making EVs more affordable. According to quarterly EV sales data from Cox Automotive, 8.1 percent of new vehicles sold were all-electric, up from 7.8 percent the previous year, said Stephanie Valdez Streaty (Cox Automotive). Olga Bredikhina (Alabama Mobility and Power Center, University of Alabama) highlighted research on a forthcoming tool to forecast EV uptake and impacts on fuel tax revenue, as well as strategic partnerships to advance a domestic supply chain and workforce development through the Mississippi-Alabama-Georgia Network for Electric Transportation (MAGNET).

Charging Infrastructure

Richard Simmons (Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute) started the next panel by sharing research on marginal emissions of EV charging (see phase I and phase II) and details about an EV charging test site at Georgia Tech’s campus. Emily Belding (IONNA) provided updates on private sector investment from eight automakers to build a national charging network from the Durham-based company, including the first site that opened at the end of last year in Apex, N.C. Ben Rogers (Electrada) discussed his team’s efforts to work with fleets to provide charging, including a collaboration with Duke Energy in Mount Holly, N.C., to develop a site that automakers have used to test their vehicles. Tom DelViscio (Duke Energy) noted early communication with utilities is essential to ensure adequate power supply to sites, particularly around medium- and heavy-duty charging applications. Felix Tintelnot (Duke University) shared research on the effects of EV incentives in the United States.

Consumer Education and Local Engagement

A variety of efforts are fostering collaboration across the electric mobility ecosystem in the region. Angella Dunston (Roanoke Cooperative) highlighted a charging station for an electric school bus in Bertie County, N.C. Neil Padukone (New York Climate Exchange) discussed the launch of Project Closed Circuit, an effort to accelerate the circularity of batteries—essential given the rarity and value of certain materials. Julia Dietz (University of Georgia) highlighted her university’s work on the Georgia Network for E-Mobility. Cyndel Brunell (EVNoire) highlighted her organization’s Electrifying Virginia Partnership and Auto Dealer Certification among other efforts.

Poster Session

The event’s poster session featured research and programmatic information from academia and energy and transportation organizations. See a list of all the posters and presenters.

Photo credits: [1]: Ashley Stephenson, [2]: Melissa Fernandez.