On this week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast, Trevor Pawl, who recently moved on from his pioneering role as the state’s chief mobility officer, reflects on all the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) accomplished during his tenure and why he thinks more good things are ahead.

Pawl talks about why it made sense of him and his family to move on now and what they have planned for the future.

He also shares insights on hydrogen as a vehicle fuel, what the future holds and how the U.S. federal government is making moves to catch up with other nations and how Michigan is embracing a clean-energy future as discussed in this video with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.

Pawl also expounds on Michigan’s participation as one of seven Midwestern states teaming up to accelerate the development of hydrogen as a clean energy alternative. The partnership includes Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, whose economies are dominated by agriculture and heavy industry such as steel and automobile manufacturing.

Among accomplishments from partners in including OFME, MDOT and other agencies, Pawl touts:

• Launching a first-state strategy for future mobility, the MI Future Mobility Plan
• Building America’s first road custom-built for driverless vehicles
• Building America’s first road that charges an electric vehicle (EV) while it drives
• Leading development of a signature EV route around Lake Michigan
• Led America’s first feasibility study for cross-border drone skyways
• Created the Midwest’s first airport innovation lab in Grand Rapids
• Developed a first-of-its kind partnership to attract 5,000 tech workers to the Michigan Central innovation district in Detroit
• Co-led the creation of Michigan’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan ($110 million for EV charging)
• Invested in the first autonomous, electric bus on a university campus