Jeremy Michalek
Professor, Engineering and Public Policy, Mechanical Engineering
Jeremy J. Michalek is a professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Engineering and Public Policy. He is the founding director of the Design Decisions Laboratory, founding co-director of the Vehicle Electrification Group, and an active member of the Green Design Institute and the Center for Climate and Energy Decision Making. His research focuses on vehicle electrification (including technology, life cycle assessment, consumer behavior, and public policy), as well as design decision-making (including systems optimization, techno-economic analysis, and green design.
Michalek earned his B.S. from Carnegie Mellon (1999), and his M.S. (2001) and Ph.D. (2005) from the University of Michigan in mechanical engineering. He worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Michigan before beginning his current faculty position at CMU.
Michalek teaches courses in design, product development, economic analysis, entrepreneurship, and optimization. His research has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times, and he has co-authored and presented policy briefs on Capitol Hill. He has earned awards including the ASME Design Automation Committee’s Best Paper Award, the International Journal on Research in Marketing’s Best Article Award, the George Tallman Ladd Research Award for outstanding research and professional accomplishments, the ASME Design Automation Outstanding Young Investigator Award, and the National Science Foundation CAREER Award. He is involved in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), and the Transportation Research Board (TRB).
Vehicle Electrification
Electric Vehicle Benefits & Costs in the U.S.
Electric Vehicle Adoption Potential in the U.S.
Education
2005 Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
2001 MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
1999 BS, Mechanical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Research Interests
- advanced vehicle systems
- air quality
- autonomous driving
- batteries
- clean power systems
- consumer behavior
- electric power systems
- energy
- energy systems
- engineered systems
- engineering and public policy
- environmental engineering
- environmental systems
- green design
- management science
- mechanical engineering
- natural gas engineering
- operations research
- optimization
- product design
- product strategy and innovation
- renewable energy
- sustainable engineering
- systems modeling
- technical innovation
- technology policy
- transportation systems
Media mentions
Mechanical Engineering
Driving ahead
From ensuring the supply quality of powertrain plastics to project managing Ford's new electric pickup truck, master's alumna Stephanie Jennings is applying the analytical and problem-solving skills she learned in MechE to her career.
Scott Institute
CMU Engineering faculty awarded Scott Institute seed grants
Eight research projects lead by CMU Engineering faculty have been awarded 2020 Seed Grants for Energy Research by the Scott Institue for Energy Innovation.
CMU Engineering
Untangling electric car policies
A recent study analyzing federal and state policies on electric cars reveals the peculiar relationship between the policies that leads to counterintuitive effects.
EV policy is increasing greenhouse gas emissions
Jeremy Michalek and his collaborators find that state zero-emission vehicle mandates trigger higher greenhouse gas emissions under federal fleet standards. The findings were published in the journal Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice in a paper titled "Alternative-fuel-vehicle policy interactions increase U.S. greenhouse gas emissions."
Quartz
Are there solar-powered cars in our future?
In a recent Quartz article, MechE/EPP's Jeremy Michalek says that we might have to wait for another revolution in the field of solar power technology before we see cars powered by the sun alone.
Wired
Michalek comments on fuel efficiency fight between EPA and California
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek recently spoke to Wired about the long-term implications of California’s ongoing battle with the EPA over fuel efficiency standards.
The College of Engineering faculty award winners announced
The College of Engineering has named this year’s faculty award winners, selected by the College of Engineering Faculty Awards Committee. Congratulations to the winners.
Earther
Whitefoot and Michalek comment on consequences of EPA lowering fuel economy standards
MechE/EPP’s Katie Whitefoot and Jeremy Michalek spoke with Earther on the potential international effects of EPA administrator Scott Pruitt’s recent announcement that he intends to weaken fuel economy standards.
ValueWalk
Michalek, Samaras discuss potential loss of EV tax credit
EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek and CEE’s Costa Samaras spoke recently on Wharton Business Radio about the potential loss of the $7500 electric vehicle (EV) federal tax credit and its impact on the future of electric cars.
Wired
Michalek quoted on threats to electric car tax credit
EPP/MechE's Jeremy Michalek was quoted in a recent story in Wired sharing that part of the House of Representatives tax reform bill would eliminate the up to $7500 federal tax credit for anyone who buys an electric car.
Scientific American
Michalek comments on California’s potential ban of gas cars
According to EPP/MechE’s Jeremy Michalek, whether California can eliminate gas cars “depends on what you’re willing to give up.” “Right now,” he says, “we don’t have good, affordable alternative solutions for all uses of automobiles.”
CMU Engineering
Seeding energy research
The Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation announced the 2017 recipients of its annual Seed Grants for Energy Research, which supports efforts across the university in the areas of energy, environment, and policy.