As part of a bid to attract electric vehicle developers to move some or all of their operations to Florida, state lawmakers are keying on an aerospace workforce they say is especially well-suited for battery research and development.
That workforce, located predominantly along the Space Coast, consists of engineers and scientists who trained and worked in America's space program. Since the retirement of the Space Shuttle, many former NASA employees have been looking for similar careers.
The innovation afoot at electric vehicle companies could benefit from Florida's aerospace talent pool, according to Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg.
"There is a great opportunity to build on their platforms and to use their knowledge and their skill with our great engineers that we have around the NASA area and around the Cape Canaveral area," Brandes said.
A prominent target of lawmakers' efforts: Tesla, the California-based electric vehicle manufacturer that has helped give rise to a multi-billion dollar industry. While Tesla officials haven't announced plans to open manufacturing or design facilities in Florida, Tesla has established a robust lobbying operation in Tallahassee.
"Innovation is in Tesla's blood, and it's also in Florida's, too, being a leader in the aerospace industry," said Taylor Biehl of Capitol Alliance Group, a firm that lobbies for Tesla.
While electric car companies have yet to commit to the Sunshine State, a prominent aviator is already here. Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of legendary pilot Charles Lindbergh, is partnering with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach to design a battery-powered high performance aircraft.
Lindbergh says a perpetual challenge is raising money for the project. In July, he traveled to Oshkosh, WI, for EAA AirVenture, the world's largest air show, in an effort to attract interest and investors. Finding help to work on the aircraft, however, has been relatively simple, with easy access to experienced hands.
"We're really kind of predicting and creating the future of flight, and what better to do that, who better to do that with than the leading experts, and they happen to be in Florida," Lindbergh said.