The US Department of Energy will invest heavily in advanced vehicle technologies after it decided to pour more than $175million into their development and deployment over the next three-five years.
In total, 40 projects will be supported across 15 states with the aim being to improve the fuel efficiency of next generation vehicles. They will leverage investments by the grantees and support projects that total more than $300million.
The funding spans eight areas:
- Advanced fuels and lubricants: Eight projects have received funding to improve fuels and lubricants to allow for optimal performance of advanced combustion engines.
- Light-weighting materials: Five projects have received awards to accelerate the commercial availability of lighter weight vehicles using advanced materials.
- Light weight multi-material prototype: Two projects pick up funding to design, build and test a lightweight vehicle that is 50 per cent lighter than a baseline light duty vehicle.
- Advanced cells and design technology for electric drive batteries: Twelve projects pick up awards to develop high energy or high power batteries for electric vehicles.
- Advanced power electronics and electric motor technology: Four projects have received awards to develop the next generation of power inverters and electric motors.
- Thermoelectric and enabling engine technology: Three projects pick up cash to improve the efficiency and thermoelectric devices that convert engine waste heat to electricity.
- Fleet efficiency: In an effort to develop and demonstrate fuel efficient tyre and driver feedback technologies, five projects pick up funding.
- Advanced vehicle testing and evaluation: One project picks up money to conduct laboratory and field evaluations for advanced technology vehicles.
For more information on the individual projects, check out the DOE website.
