Following the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, 20 January, in which President Obama highlighted the surge in US manufacturing and the strong growth in the auto industry, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced more than US$55 million to develop and deploy cutting edge vehicle technologies that strengthen the clean energy economy. These technologies will play a key role in increasing fuel efficiency and reducing petroleum consumption, and support the Energy Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug in electric vehicles as affordable to own and operate as today’s gasoline powered vehicles by 2022.
Moniz commented: “Energy Department investments in advanced vehicle technologies have had a major impact on the industry, driving down costs for consumers and reducing carbon emissions. These projects will continue America’s leadership in building safe, reliable, and efficient vehicles to support a strong, 21st century transportation system”.
The funding opportunity announced will go towards a wide range of research, development, and demonstration projects that aim to reduce the price and improve the efficiency of plug in electric, alternative fuel, and conventional vehicles. Topics addressed include:
- Advanced batteries (including manufacturing processes) and electric drive R&D.
- Lightweight materials.
- Advanced combustion engine and enabling technologies R&D.
- Fuels technologies (dedicated or dual fuel natural gas engine technologies).
The Department will fund cost shared projects with private industry, national laboratories, and university led teams.
In addition, the Energy Department has announced US$35 million to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, including enabling the early adoption of fuel cell applications, such as light duty fuel cell electric vehicles.
Adapted from a press release by Emma McAleavey.