Kate Whitefoot
Associate Professor, Engineering and Public Policy, ETIM, Mechanical Engineering
Courtesy Appointment, Heinz College
Kate Whitefoot is an internationally recognized engineer and economist in sustainable transportation, energy, and manufacturing. She is the founding co-director of the Transportation Engineering, Economics, and Policy Ph.D. Fellowship Program; associate director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Critical Technology Initiative; and a Fellow of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. She holds a joint appointment as associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and a courtesy appointment in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.
Whitefoot has served on several national and international policy advisory committees. She co-led the energy and critical materials analysis of the National Network for Critical Technology Assessment as well as the National Bureau of Economic Research Energy Use in Transportation research program, organized the UNFCCC COP27 Clean Air as a Human Right Symposium, and was appointed to the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council for Clean Air. She served on three National Academies committees assessing technologies in transportation and manufacturing and was selected by the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Program as an emerging engineering leader.
Her research on sustainable technology development, adoption, and policy is published in Science, the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences and Environmental Science & Technology among other journals. Her work is featured in the Atlantic, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post and referenced in multiple rulemakings by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency. She has worked with several Fortune 50 companies and startups across automotive, aircraft, energy storage, and materials industries and has been invited to present briefings at the White House, Capitol Hill, the Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Clean Air as a Human Right
Improving the Adoption of New Products in the Marketplace
Education
2011 Ph.D., Design Science (mechanical engineering & economics), University of Michigan
2008 MS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
2006 BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan
Media mentions
Mechanical Engineering
Scott Institute announces 2025 seed grant winners
This year’s seed awards will help grow research in clean hydrogen production, AI hardware efficiency, and decarbonizing transportation.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Scott Institute announces 2025 seed grant winners
This year’s seed awards will help grow research in clean hydrogen production, AI hardware efficiency, and decarbonizing transportation.
Engineering and Public Policy
Scott Institute announces 2025 seed grant winners
This year’s seed awards will help grow research in clean hydrogen production, AI hardware efficiency, and decarbonizing transportation.
Electric Apparatus
Whitefoot quoted on electric vehicle adoption in the U.S.
EPP/MechE's Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Electrical Apparatus about how half of new car and SUV buyers in the U.S. say they would purchase a fully electric vehicle by 2030 if they had a 300-mile range, were more widely available, and continued to fall in price.
IBM
Whitefoot discusses digital twin technology
EPP/MechE's Kate Whitefoot was quoted in an IBM newsletter about how digital twin technology can help reduce climate change.
Fast Company
Whitefoot quoted on EV metrics
EPP/MechE's Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Fast Company about the role of metrics in EV advertising.
Vox
Whitefoot quoted on the MPG Illusion in the US
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Vox on the EU’s more transparent gas measurements in comparison to the US. The EU’s liters per 100 kilometer driven method being “directly related to energy use and directly related to emissions” providing researchers with more precise data on fuel economy.
NBC News
Whitefoot quoted on labor involved in electric vehicle production
MechE/EPP’s Kate Whitefoot was quoted in NBC News on the amount of labor involved in electric vehicle production.
Fox Business
Whitefoot quoted on electric vehicle tax credits
Kate Whitefoot was quoted in Fox Business on the updated federal policy surrounding electric vehicle tax credits.
CNET
Whitefoot talks electric vehicle tax credits
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot spoke to CNET about adding to the list of electric vehicles that qualify for a federal tax credit worth thousands of dollars.
Axios
CMU’s take on autoworkers in the electric car industry in Axios
As the auto industry begins making the switch over to electric vehicles (EVs), a popular contention is that it takes fewer workers to manufacture EVs. However, researchers at CMU have found that it actually takes more labor hours as battery cell production is a complex and time-consuming process.
MSN
Whitefoot comments on green cars in MSN
MechE/EPP’s Kate Whitefoot comments on the future of green vehicles in MSN. “Moving heavy vehicles like school buses, construction equipment, and big trucks to electrification will definitely be slower,” she says.
Newsweek
Whitefoot comments on gas-powered green vehicles
MechE/EPP’s Kate Whitefoot comments on gas-powered green vehicles in Newsweek. "Moving heavy vehicles like school buses. construction equipment and big trucks to electrification will definitely be slower. That's where improving the efficiency of internal combustion engines will be important,” Whitefoot says.
Nautilus
Whitefoot talks increasing electric vehicle popularity
MechE/EPP’s Kate Whitefoot spoke to Nautilus about what’s behind the latest uptick in consumer interest in electric vehicles, breaking down several factors, including environmental impact and the influence of Tesla.
GO Banking Rates
Whitefoot talks cost of EVs, policy incentives
MechE/EPP’s Kate Whitefoot said there are many policy incentives available to lower the cost of purchasing electric vehicles (EVs).
CMU Engineering
Tech advances will drive the transition to electric vehicles
Researchers found that advances in EV technology will likely bring significant growth to the market, relative to gasoline powered automobiles.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
CMU at COP27: Addressing Air Quality Standards and Emission Reductions
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) was held in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt on November 6-18 this year. CMU was represented at the conference by Energy Fellows Katie Whitefoot and Paulina Jaramillo.
Vox
Whitefoot talks future of electric vehicles after California’s ban on gasoline vehicles
EPP/MechE’s Kate Whitefoot discussed future uptake of electric vehicles in Vox after California passed a measure banning the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035. “It is expected that EVs will dominate the new vehicle market nationwide in the future,” she said. “The uncertainty is exactly when this will occur.”
CMU Engineering
Engineering faculty featured in events at GCEAF
Many faculty from across the College of Engineering will be featured at events during this year’s Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Scott Institute Announces New Class of Energy Fellows
The Scott Institute Energy Fellows Program incentivizes, promotes and rewards Carnegie Mellon University's most dedicated tenure track energy faculty. Each fellow receives yearly funding and resources from the Scott Institute.