California Energy Commission to award up to $1.75M for work on economic and environmental impacts of plug-in battery packs

27 October 2012

The California Energy Commission is issuing a competitive grant solicitation for up to $1.75 million in funding (PON-12-501), sponsored by the Transportation Research Area of the Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER), to address the economic and environmental impacts of battery packs for plug-in vehicles (PEVs).

The commercial viability of PEVs faces barriers including high purchase costs and uncertain disposal impacts of PEV battery packs, according to the Commission. The solicitation will fund research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) proposals that fall under two topic areas:

• Techno-Economic Assessment of PEV Battery Pack Standards. Develop tools, methods, and analysis to inform the development of PEV battery pack standards that reduce the life-cycle costs of PEV batteries.

• Large-Scale Recycling of California’s PEV Battery Packs. Develop and advance technologies, tools, data, and scientific knowledge that will be needed to enable large-scale recycling that avoids or minimizes the disposal impacts of California’s PEV battery packs.

There is up to $1.75 million available for the agreement(s) resulting from this PON. Of this amount, the following are the approximate maximum amounts for each of the two Research Topics:

• Techno-Economic Assessment of PEV Battery Pack Standards ($750,000)

• Large-Scale Recycling of California’s PEV Battery Packs ($1 million)

Match funding for this solicitation is encouraged but not required for selection.

The Commission is holding one Pre-Application Workshop on 15 November.