The US Department of Energy (DOE) has allotted about USD17.8 million in funds to support research and development (R&D) of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), as well as to accelerate the adoption of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles operating on electricity. The funding, named the 'Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Vehicle Technologies Multi-Topic Funding Opportunity Announcement' (DE-FOA-0001535), will seek cost-shared projects across three areas of sustainable transportation technologies, including medium- and heavy-duty PHEVs from Class 3 to 7, and vehicles with onboard energy storage to provide power to power from the vehicle to external bodies. The PHEV projects, granted USD7.8 million, must be developed in accordance with three phases: component development (batteries and/or electric drive system), powertrain integration into vehicles, and vehicle demonstration for at least one year and not exceeding two years. The remaining USD10 million of the funding is being granted to alternative fuel vehicle community partner projects to accelerate light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles that operate on electricity and hydrogen, apart from fuels such as biodiesel, natural gas, and propane. The funding will also support fuelling infrastructure needed to support such vehicles.
Significance: The grants of about USD18 million are part of the USD22.3 million of funding opportunities the DOE announced it would offer in April this year. Governments see alternative powertrains as key elements in fighting emissions and climate issues, while also reducing dependence on foreign oil imports. In view of this, the DOE is constantly offering grants to support the development and implementation of alternative powertrain technologies.
