DOE awards $60 million to 24 emission-reduction R&D projects

The DOE has awarded $60 million in funding to 24 R&D projects aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions from passenger cars and light- and heavy-duty trucks.

The projects, funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicles Technology Office (VTO), address the two largest contributors to transportation-sector emissions. Passenger cars and light-duty trucks account for nearly 60% of emissions, and medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for nearly 25%.

Funding recipients include automotive OEMs (GM, Cummins), suppliers (BorgWarner) and university-based and independent research groups around the country. The full list of the projects describes the research goals and lists the federal funding amounts.

Research areas include next‐generation liquid electrolytes, lithium-sulfur and lithium-air battery cells, high power density inverters and energy-efficient mobility systems technologies.

Twelve of the projects will focus on developing next-generation lithium batteries with improved lifespan, safety and affordability, improving the performance and durability of electrolytes, and increasing the power density of electric drive systems.

Six projects will help develop a better understanding of new mobility technologies, particularly how automated, connected, electric and shared vehicle technologies interact with the larger transportation system.

Clemson University will develop a lightweight, multi-material passenger vehicle body structure, addressing challenges in joining dissimilar materials.

Two projects will develop simulation tools to accelerate and optimize the development of advanced emissions systems for heavy-duty vehicles.

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 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.”