August ’25 Industry and Innovation Highlights

Two representatives from UIPA smile at the camera from behind their table as they prepare to greet and share with guests at the ASPIRE EVR Open House on July 17. — Representatives from UIPA, one of ASPIRE’s IIB members, at the ASPIRE EVR Open House on July 17.

ASPIRE’s Industry & Innovation ecosystem remains strong and forward focused, with 69 engaged members continuing to shape the future of transportation through partnership, insight, and action. We’re excited to welcome CMHA as the newest addition to the Industry & Innovation Board — bringing unique perspective and energy to our growing network. As ASPIRE continues to work with members to collaborate on research, showcase technologies, and represent our efforts on national stages, the collective impact continues to grow. We’re excited to carry this momentum to the upcoming Industry & Innovation Day, where new ideas and partnerships will continue to drive us forward.

New IIB Members

ASPIRE’s Industry and Innovation Board (IIB) comprises members who contribute their expertise and resources to collaboratively advance the center’s mission of developing sustainable and electrified transportation solutions.

Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA)

This partnership brings together ASPIRE’s leadership in transportation electrification and CMHA’s expertise in resilient, sustainable construction to advance infrastructure that is not only cleaner and smarter—but also economically sound through greater durability and long-term cost savings.

Member Engagement & Conferences

ASPIRE Open House

On July 17, ASPIRE opened its doors to the public at the 2025 ASPIRE Open House, hosted at the Electric Vehicle & Roadway (EVR) Facility in Logan, Utah. The event brought together ASPIRE researchers, industry innovators, and members of the community to celebrate progress in transportation electrification — and it did not disappoint.

The night was filled with interactive experiences and exciting technology demonstrations. Attendees had the opportunity to ride in ASPIRE’s Class 6 and Class 8 electric trucks on the test track, explore next-generation EVs provided by Wilson Auto and Young Automotive, and engage directly with ASPIRE technologies showcased throughout the facility.

A standout feature of the event was the strong presence from our industry and innovation ecosystem, including 47G, Big-D Construction, Hypercraft, and the Utah Inland Port Authority, each sharing hands-on displays of the transformative work they’re doing in infrastructure, mobility, and electrification.

From students and families to government leaders and corporate partners, the turnout and enthusiasm reflected a shared belief in a cleaner, smarter, and more connected transportation future. The energy in the room—and on the track—was unmistakable.

Dive into more details and photos from the ASPIRE Open House here.

Ecosystem News

Illinois Tollway, an ASPIRE IIB member, recently announced their In-Road Electric Vehicle Charging pilot project during their June 6 webinar.
Faps Fau, Toyota, & Electreon, partners of ASPIRE, are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with dynamic wireless charging. In a bold pilot on France’s A10 motorway, vehicles charged seamlessly while in motion — exciting steps towards the future of transportation.
Ford, an ASPIRE IIB member, proved the capabilities of their Mach-E Electric Vehicle, when a user went 250K miles on a single battery.
Ernst & Young recently visited the EVR in Logan, UT for a facility tour and discussion.
ASPIRE recently purchased the first-ever in-motion charging Class 6 electrified box truck from Kenworth, an ASPIRE industry member.

Upcoming Events

Industry & Innovation Day

Mark your calendars for our Industry & Innovation Day coming up on November 3-4!

ASPIRE’s Industry & Innovation Day is the annual capstone event of the center that brings together our expansive network of Industry and Innovation Members, key ecosystem stakeholder partners, students, staff, and researchers to not only celebrate progress but also chart the path forward in sustainable transportation solutions. This year’s event will feature a student competition among our affiliated universities, the “Innovation Challenge”. This new event is being organized and facilitated by Charge Assist, a new ASPIRE Industry Member. The workshops, entitled “The Next Mile Workshops,” will be solution-driven using a business canvas methodology for the discussions throughout the day. During lunch, a keynote speaker will deliver a presentation on updates in the electrified ecosystem. The day will conclude with our renowned ASPIRE Technology Showcase, which features not only ASPIRE projects, student talents, and demonstrations but also showcases some of the Industry and Innovation members’ technologies and projects. This is an excellent dynamic event for fostering collaboration and innovation in electrified transportation, as well as for professional and academic networking.

Details and registration for this event are now open!

Innovation Challenge

ASPIRE is partnering with Charge Assist EV to host the center’s first-ever Innovation Challenge. This event will take place on October 31 – November 3, effectively kicking off ASPIRE’s 2025 Annual Meeting at Utah State University. Students from all disciplines are invited to participate.

These students, in teams of 4 to 6 members, will compete in a Hackathon-formatted challenge. In these interdisciplinary teams, students will prototype scalable solutions to real-world industry pain points. These prototypes can be software, hardware, or workflow processes.

Learn more about this event here.

MAASTO 2025

Director of Innovation & Ecosystem Development Don Linford will be representing ASPIRE at this conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 25-27. This annual conference for ten midwestern state DOTs fosters opportunities to share best practices, potential collaborations, and inter-operative ideas.

Learn more about this conference.

Minnesota Transportation Alliance Annual Meeting

At this comprehensive conference addressing news, updates, and information related to Minnesota transportation, ASPIRE has been given the opportunity to present and dive into the state of current technologies and the barriers surround electrification in transportation. This event will take place on November 3 in Waite Park, Minnesota.

Find out more information about this event.