The Department of Energy in the US has made available $240 million for the development of high-efficiency trucks and passenger vehicles. The funding includes approximately $110 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $130 million from DOE. The moneys will be divided into two areas: system-level technologies for efficient Class 8 trucks and advanced technology powertrains for passenger vehicles.
Class 8 trucks are defined as heavy-duty commercial trucks weighing over 33,000 pounds, including tractor-trailers, and the goal is to increase vehicle freight efficiency by 50%. Awardees will develop and test vehicles with advanced engines and other fuel-saving features, such as improved aerodynamics, reduced vehicle weight, lower rolling resistance, hybrid technologies, and idle reduction technologies. If the tests are successful, they could lead to a full-scale demonstration vehicle within the next three to five years.
The second part of the solicitation aims to accelerate the development of efficient engine and powertrain systems for passenger vehicles. For gasoline-fueled vehicles, these awardees will aim to achieve at least a 25% improvement in fuel economy compared to today's typical vehicles, while diesel-fueled vehicles will target at least a 40% improvement. The new powertrains can include improvements to in-cylinder combustion, engine mechanics, waste heat recovery, friction reduction, emission control, fuels, and materials, and they can also include electrification technologies and reduced ancillary loads. Awardees will develop the engines and test them on a dynamometer, which simulates typical loads on the engine. Engines that perform well during dynamometer testing could be integrated into a test vehicle within the next three to five years.
Applications are due on September 9. More details can be found on www.grants.gov.
