This funding opportunity is open to local governments and private companies, with federal funds matched at a 50% cost share.

ZECT technologies, as sought by the DOE in this FOA, are those that meet the definition of ETT provided in Section 131(a)(3) of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA), P.L. 112-74 and that produce zero emissions from the transport vehicle (or other equipment) which propels cargo for all or large portions of their duty cycle. The definition includes technology used in vehicles that use an electric motor for all or part of the motive power of the vehicles, including battery electric, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric, fuel cell, and plug-in fuel cell vehicles, or rail transportation.

Examples of ZECT technology include, but are not limited to:

• Heavy-duty on-road trucks that transport shipping containers of one or more twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) and that are propelled by electric motors powered by batteries, fuel cells, overhead catenary wires, or hybrid-electric technologies that operate in all electric mode for a large portion of their duty cycle;

• Locomotives propelled by electric motors powered by batteries, overhead catenary wires, fuel cells, or hybrid-electric technologies that operate in all-electric mode for a large portion of their duty cycle; and

• Systems in roadbeds or rail lines that propel trucks or trains.

Awards resulting from this FOA will consist of one or two phases; Demonstration only or Development and Demonstration. All projects must have a Demonstration Phase. Regardless of whether an applicant proposes development and demonstration phases or only a demonstration phase, the effort funded through any award from this FOA will be considered to meet the criteria for Technology Readiness Level 8.

Award recipients must deploy and demonstrate a ZECT system over at least two years of the period of performance. A minimum two years of data collection from the ZECT system is required.

The test strategy should include variation in the usage and electric range for both loaded and unloaded configurations. Data to be collected shall include: operational data for any vehicles included in the ZECT system, including detailed powertrain, fuel cell (if applicable), and battery operational data; vehicle speed, load (payload), and auxiliary electrical loads; and data on supporting infrastructure operation, including charge time, duration, load and energy consumption for any other liquid or gaseous fuel consumed by the vehicle. The vehicle operating and maintenance costs shall also be recorded.

Data collected for the proposed ZECT system should at a minimum include vehicle efficiency; cargo ton-miles per vehicle and fleet; petroleum consumption (if any); hydrogen consumption (if any); charging profiles, including times, duration, and electricity used; operational profiles; information related to the potential for electromagnetic interference; fuel-cell-specific information (if applicable); and battery-specific data including state of charge, voltage, current, and temperatures.

EERE anticipates making approximately two awards under this FOA.