Who is MEVA?
The Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance is a 501c3 non-profit organization consisting of a diverse network of individuals and organizations from all across Michigan.
MEVA was founded by a passionate and dedicated group of Michiganders looking to better their community and the world. When we overlaid our diverse experiences in healthcare, automotive, and community organization, we found that electric vehicles can solve problems that Michigan faces on many fronts. MEVA is our way to try and push for a better world, and if you want, it can be yours too!
Meet Our Team
Amy is a native Detroiter and recent transplant to Grand Rapids. Growing up in the Detroit area, she was surrounded by the auto industry and can trace her roots back to family members who worked at the Packard Plant. Still to this day, much of her family is employed by the auto industry and its supportive businesses.
Amy has a passion for both climate change mitigation and how Michigan can be a leader both nationally and internationally in the electrification of vehicles for a greener future. Being a Physician Assistant, she’s also dedicated to working towards a cleaner environment to minimize the detrimental health affects of climate change on her patients.
On any given day, you’d probably find Amy out hiking, snow shoeing or running with her two furry Siberian Huskies, enjoying all of nature’s beauty. She sees herself as a realistic tree hugging climate nut!
Melody is a public relations and corporate communications graduate of SNHU. She is currently studying to receive her master’s degree in the same field of PR&CC at Georgetown University. When Melody is not working or spending time with her husband and three sons, she volunteers her time with Auto Club Group’s Employee Resource Groups for Women in Leadership, African American, Native American, Hispanic and Emerging Professionals. Melody is MEVA's Communications Director and is on the board of directors, where she advocates for the group’s goals, recruits support by individual Michiganders and other climate change organizations, and tables events across the southern Michigan region.
Elliot is a battery systems engineer who has worked in automotive for the past 6 years, and he is passionate about mitigating climate change and improving lives through technology. His current work is designing new batteries and applications for them. With work and passion combined, applying his skills to help MEVA's mission was a no-brainer!
Elliot grew up in St. Cloud, MN, but currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI. He loves mountain biking, hiking, sailing, and cooking. If you live in the area (or are passing through) and want to grab a beer, look him up on LinkedIn!
Rev. Richard L. Killmer is a Presbyterian minister who has served in several national religious organizations, including the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the National Council of Churches. Most recently he was the executive director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture – an interfaith membership organization in Washington, DC of over 325 religious organizations committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture in the U.S. policy, practice, and culture. He served in that position from May 2007 to December 31, 2013 when he retired and currently bears the title of founding executive director.
In retirement, he was the director of two conferences on drone warfare at Princeton Theological Seminary in 2015 and in September 2019. He also worked on the issue of climate change with the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). He was a member of the CRCNA delegation to the Paris Climate Change Talks in December 2015 and has attended the UN conferences on climate change in Madrid, Spain, Glasgow, Scotland, and Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
In 2010, he was the co-founder of Shoulder to shoulder: Standing with American Muslims; Advancing American Ideals.
Stephen grew up in Metro Detroit and studied Applied Engineering Sciences at Michigan State University. He was involved with the Spartan Sierra Club until he graduated, and then became a member of the Sierra Club’s Southeast Michigan Group. In April 2021 Stephen was trained as a Climate Change Leader through the Climate Reality Project which is where he met Amy and Bill.
He’s worked in the automotive industry for over two years and felt helping start MEVA was the perfect opportunity to combine his environmentalism with his automotive experience. Stephen is passionate about protecting the planet for future generations and about advancing the circular economy within the automotive industry.
He loves to play basketball, go hiking, spend time in a hammock, and support the Michigan State Spartans!
What’s at stake?
The standard of global transportation is changing.
Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles have been a staple of our world for over a century, but the consequences of this industrial age technology are coming into sharp relief in the 21st century. Health concerns, pollution, and global climate change are among the currently tangible side effects of the ICE automobile, and the world is shifting to compensate. With this shift, the home of the Motor City finds itself in on the edge of the spotlight. Will Michigan have the vision to lead the way, leaning on its existing infrastructure, technical expertise, supply chains, and reputation? Or will we cling to the past, and let the automotive capital of the United States lose its century long head start?
Our Goals
1.
100% of new passenger and light duty vehicle sales in Michigan will be electric by 2030
2.
Increase rapid charging stations across the state by 50% by 2024
3.
MI joins the Multi-State ZEV Program
