DOE to solicit projects for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle powertrain electrification and fleet demonstrations
14 July 2015
The US Department of Energy (DOE) intends to issue, on behalf of its Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001349) entitled entitled “Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification and Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration.” DOE expects the FOA will include the following Areas of Interest:
Area of Interest 1 – Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification. The objective of the first area of interest is to research, develop, and demonstrate electric-drive powertrain technologies for medium and heavy duty vehicles with an end goal of reducing fuel consumption by at least 50%, when compared to an equivalent vehicle with a conventional internal combustion engine powertrain driven on a comparable duty cycle.
DOE will encourage teaming arrangements that involve an electric transportation technology developer, a vehicle manufacturer, and a fleet operator.
Area of Interest 2 – Heavy Duty Vehicle Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration. The objective of this FOA is to demonstrate and evaluate the performance and emissions systems of dual fuel heavy-duty vehicles equipped with engines capable of operation using a mixture of diesel fuel and gaseous fuels (natural gas, propane or natural gas derived fuels such as Dimethyl Ether).
The vehicles and dual fuel technologies must be commercially available, and not experimental, pre-production, or planned for further development under the project; and must also be compliant with New or Inside Useful Life Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification.
DOE estimates projects in Area 1 will last approximately three years, and in Area 2, two years.
The advance notice of intent is to alert prospective applicants to the FOA and to enable them to begin developing partnerships, formulating ideas, and gathering data in anticipation of the issuance of this FOA. DOE anticipates releasing the FOA in August 2015.
Electrification of heavy Duty vehicles is a tough problem. I have always been an advocate of fleet electrification because of the known route usage, professional drivers and professional maintenance but if they are talking long haul trucks its seem the long steady usage/drive pattern would make it difficult. Maybe it would be good for local haulers in urban areas, because of the stop and go (more breaking recovery). It would also have the benefit of lower particulate emission in urban areas. Although, we never sell anything solely based on how good it is for the people, it has to have a money gain attached to it or we just don't care. I guess that's what makes it appropriate for government though. This seems to risky for the risk averse business community and they don't care about the people.
Posted by: Brotherkenny4 | 17 July 2015 at 01:19 PM