US DoE to invest in emissions reduction

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $60 million for 24 research and development projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light- and heavy-duty trucks. A total of $28.1 million will be awarded to accelerate innovation in EV batteries and electric drive systems.

The projects will examine several aspects of e-mobility and take measures to ensure a long-term development and secure supply chain. The previously-mentioned sum of $28.1 million will go to 12 projects focusing on developing next-generation lithium batteries with improved lifespan, safety, and affordability, grouped under the heading ‘Accelerate innovation in EV batteries and electric drive systems’.

Under the heading of ‘Ready new mobility systems technology for commercial and consumer use’, another $20.2 million will be invested across six projects to help develop “a better understanding of new mobility technologies, particularly on how automated, connected, electric, and shared vehicle technology, like automated electric shuttles and connected vehicle/infrastructure technologies, interact with the larger transportation system”.

Batteries and connectivity are not the only aspects under examination of course: Another plan to develop lightweight materials to increase passenger and commercial vehicle efficiency will see Clemson University develop a lightweight, multi-material passenger vehicle body structure, addressing challenges in joining dissimilar materials with a total award amount of $5.8 million.

Additionally, $5.1 million will go to two projects aiming to reduce exhaust emissions while improving commercial vehicle engine efficiency. Specifically, they will develop simulation tools to accelerate and optimize the development of advanced emissions systems for heavy-duty vehicles.

Finally, the last $1 million will go to “improve understanding of energy use and environmental impact of new vehicle technologies”. Here, three projects will develop tools to understand charging infrastructure needs for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles and analyze environmental, cost, and energy impacts of infrastructure upgrades.

“Fossil-fuel powered cars and trucks are a leading cause of air pollution and carbon emissions, and that is why we are focusing on decarbonizing the transportation sector to achieve President Biden’s climate goals,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Partnering with industry and leading research universities, DOE’s investment in these 24 projects will create technologies and techniques that will cut vehicle greenhouse emissions and boost America’s competitiveness in the global clean energy market.”

energy.gov, energy.gov (projects as PDF)