Michigan has always been at the center of automotive innovation, from the moving assembly line to the airbag to the backup camera. The state has a long history of turning bold ideas into technologies that change how the world moves. Today, a new chapter is unfolding, with electric vehicles (EVs) as the platform driving it forward.
A recent article from The Detroit News put it plainly in its headline: “AVs are usually EVs.” The piece digs into the deep engineering relationship between advanced vehicle technologies like autonomous driving and electric powertrains, a relationship that Michigan’s auto industry has come to know well. As the political debate around EVs grows louder, the engineering reality becomes clearer: electrification isn’t just about reducing emissions. It is about unlocking what vehicles can do next.
EVs Are More Than a Cleaner Car
When people think about EVs, the focus is often on daily benefits: no gas station stops, lower fuel costs, and fewer maintenance visits. These advantages are real, but they are only part of the story. EVs are simpler machines with fewer moving parts, which translates to less maintenance and lower ownership costs over time. The ride is cleaner, quieter, and smoother. And with access to overnight charging, drivers wake up every morning to a full “tank”.
But the driving experience isn’t the only significant shift that comes with the transition to EVs. It’s also what their architecture makes possible. A gasoline-powered car is, at its core, a mechanical system built around an engine, a transmission, and a fuel tank. That architecture was designed for a specific purpose. And while we’ve come a long way from the early generations of mass-produced internal combustion engines, their fundamentals have remained the same. An electric vehicle is different from the ground up. It’s a software-defined platform. An EV is a sophisticated onboard computer that also happens to move you from point A to point B.
So, Why Are AVs Usually EVs?
The Detroit News article makes clear that the connection between autonomous vehicles and electric powertrains isn’t a coincidence. It is the result of engineering requirements. Three reasons stand out.
First, safety demands precision, and electric motors deliver it. The instant, finely tuned torque control of an electric drivetrain is far better suited to the kind of split-second, precise maneuvering that autonomous systems require as opposed to a combustion engine’s mechanical complexity.
Second, advanced vehicle technologies are power-hungry. The sensors, processors, and computing systems that enable autonomous driving require substantial, consistent electrical power. EVs, built around large battery packs and robust electrical systems, are naturally equipped to provide it. Traditional gas-powered vehicles simply weren’t designed with that kind of electrical architecture in mind.
Third, simpler systems are easier to integrate. EV drivetrains are mechanically simpler, which makes it easier to layer in advanced software and computing systems. Less mechanical complexity creates more space, both physically and technologically, for innovation.
EVs as an Innovation PlatformÂ
The path toward autonomous driving isn’t a single leap. It’s a progression of capabilities, each one building on the last. And that progression is already visible in the vehicles on the road today. Electric powertrains have already enabled many of the driver-assist and advanced vehicle technologies that are now commonplace.
Over-the-air software updates allow automakers to improve a vehicle after it’s been sold. This allows automakers to fix issues, add features, and refine performance in the same way a smartphone receives a software update. This capability, which is native to software-defined EVs, means the car you own today can be meaningfully better than the car you drove off the lot.
Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) – like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring – are increasingly standard features on all modern vehicles. These aren’t novelties. They’re the early layers of an autonomy stack, the building blocks of a safety architecture enabled by the increase of electric powertrains.
Level 2 and Level 3 autonomy systems capable of handling highway driving with limited or no human intervention are now arriving on production vehicles. These technologies are often introduced first on EV platforms before expanding to internal combustion vehicles. This was the case with the Mach E, Ford’s first vehicle equipped with BlueCruise. This hands-free highway driving technology is now available in the F-150 and other ICE vehicles. Ford has also stated that while the Level 3 autonomy technology in development will be applicable across powertrains, the first vehicles to receive it will be those on its upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle platform.
Beyond autonomy, EVs are also reshaping the in-car experience. A recent Reuters report highlighted unique in-car experiences from Chinese EVs, with many features that are ahead of vehicles currently sold in the U.S. Vehicles equipped with technology features like large infotainment touchscreens, built-in refrigerator, exterior speakers, and flip-down entertainment displays for second-row passengers are becoming increasingly common in Chinese EVs. These features are more feasible in EVs because their battery systems and software architecture are designed to support higher electrical loads.
In contrast, traditional vehicle electrical systems were never designed for this level of demand. EVs enable a shift from transportation to experience, turning vehicles into connected, customizable spaces. Chinese automakers have been quick to capitalize on this, and U.S. consumers and automakers are taking notice.Â
Michigan is in the Middle of This Story
Government mandates aren’t driving the case for EVs as the foundation of automotive innovation. The technology simply makes sense. Electric vehicle automakers like Tesla and Rivian have redefined what a software-defined vehicle looks like. They’re pushing the boundaries of over-the-air updates, autonomous capability, and connected driving experiences. The rapidly emerging autonomous vehicle industry, from Waymo and Zoox to Tesla’s Cybercab and Ann Arbor’s own May Mobility, has overwhelmingly built on electric platforms. EVs provide precision, power, and mechanical simplicity. These qualities not only improve the driving experience but also make EVs the ideal foundation for advanced vehicle technologies.
Michigan is already deeply involved in this transformation. Ford has expanded hands-free highway driving to mainstream vehicles, and GM continues to scale Super Cruise across its lineup. The state’s universities, startups, and supply chains are actively contributing to these advancements.
This is Michigan continuing its legacy of building the future of mobility. But leadership is not guaranteed. Staying competitive requires continued investment and adoption of emerging technologies. Supporting EV adoption is not about choosing sides. It is about ensuring Michigan remains a leader in designing, building, and selling the next generation of vehicles.