The US Department of Energy has announced up to US$137m in investments for two programs to develop next generation technologies that will support industry in going beyond the second round of standards for medium and heavy-duty vehicles adopted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), while also accelerating technology advances for passenger cars and light trucks. The programs are subject to appropriations.
One initiative, SuperTruck II, will fund four projects to develop and demonstrate cost-effective technologies that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks, commonly known as 18-wheelers.
Through another initiative, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement selections, 35 new projects will receive US$57m to develop and deploy a wide array of cutting-edge vehicle technologies, including advanced batteries and electric drive systems, to reduce carbon emissions and petroleum consumption in passenger cars and light trucks.
August 25, 2016