This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.

September 11, 2013

Energy Department Awards $45 Million for Advanced Transportation

The Energy Department on September 4 announced more than $45 million in funding for 38 new projects that will accelerate the research and development of vehicle technologies to improve fuel efficiency, lower transportation costs, and protect the environment. Through the Advanced Vehicle Power Technology Alliance between the Energy Department and the U.S. Department of the Army, the Army is contributing an additional $3 million in co-funding to support projects focused on "lightweighting" and propulsion materials, batteries, fuels, and lubricants.

The 38 projects span five major areas critical to advanced transportation technologies. Fifteen projects will research advanced lightweighting and propulsion materials, which are essential for boosting the fuel economy of cars and trucks while maintaining and improving safety and performance. Thirteen projects will focus on advanced batteries, helping to improve cell chemistry and composition, develop advanced electrolytes, and create new battery design tools to further reduce battery costs. Four projects will target power electronics to improve plug-in electric vehicle (EV) inverters. Two projects will seek to reduce the impact of heating and cooling on EVs in order to significantly increase all-electric driving range. And four projects will develop advanced fuels and lubricants that can reduce friction losses and increase the efficiency of cars already on the market, as well as next-generation passenger vehicles.

The 38 new projects support the goals of the Energy Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, a broader initiative to make EVs as affordable and convenient to own and drive as gasoline-powered vehicles within 10 years. See the complete list of projects and the Energy Department press release.