Directory
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.  
Office
358 Scaife Hall
Phone
412.268.6771
Email
kwhitefoot@cmu.edu
Google Scholar
Kate Whitefoot
Websites
Kate Whitefoot’s lab website

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

Affiliations

Research Interests

Media mentions


Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation

Seed grant spotlight: Increasing U.S. transportation resilience

To adequately support electrification of the U.S. transportation sector, which claims the greatest energy use and greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions in the country, it’s important to make the supply chain resilient and adaptable to changing policies, global trade conditions, and consumer demand.

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.

See More Mentions

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.

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