DOE releases $137 million for research to create greener-running vehicles

The U.S. Energy Department recently released up to $137 million in funding through the SuperTruck II initiative and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity project.

The funding is geared toward the development and deployment of vehicle technologies, such as advanced batteries and electric drive systems, which would reduce carbon emissions and petroleum consumption for passenger cars and light trucks.

The SuperTruck II initiative aims to build on the SuperTruck I initiative, which challenged teams to make heavy-duty freight trucks 50 percent more efficient – a task three of four teams already have accomplished -- while the final team expects to do the same by the end of the year. Supertruck II will support four projects to develop and demonstrate systems that more than double the freight efficiency of Class 8 trucks, also known as 18-wheelers.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Office Program Wide Funding Opportunity project  will encompass 35 projects that aim to develop and deploy cutting-edge vehicle technologies, including batteries and electric drive systems, to reduce carbon emissions and boost fuel efficiency in passenger cars and light trucks.

“These investments will accelerate the development of innovative vehicle technologies that will save businesses and consumers money at the pump, cut carbon emissions and strengthen our economy,” Department of Energy acting Assistant Secretary David Friedman said. “SuperTruck II builds on the successful SuperTruck I program, which has already led to more than 20 fuel-saving technologies that have reached the commercial market.”