A University of Colorado at Colorado Springs engineering professor is among a team of academic and car industry experts who will collaborate on the design of batteries and other components for the next generation of electric automobiles.

Gregory Plett, an associate electrical and computer engineering professor, will work with a team of University of Michigan faculty members and General Motors engineers to accelerate development of advanced battery technology for electric and hybrid vehicles.

Plett and two UCCS graduate students will work on creating controls to extend battery life cycles and provide data about their condition to drivers and vehicle computer systems.

The five-year project they are working on stems from a $5 million award to establish the University of Michigan's Advanced Battery Coalition for Drivetrains.

UCCS will receive $750,000 over five years, allowing Plett and his students to conduct computer simulations and travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to collaborate with other team members.