14 August 2014: The US Department of Energy has announced a contribution of over US$55 million for 31 projects that aim to support the goals of US President Barack Obama’s ‘EV Everywhere Grand Challenge,’ and result in improvements in other vehicle technologies, including powertrains, fuel, tires and auxiliary systems.

The support will go to research and development into fuel- and cost-efficient vehicle technologies under two topic areas: critical technologies to meet the EV Challenge; and fuel efficiency improvements in passenger vehicles and commercial trucks. Projects funded fall in 14 “Areas of Interest,” including: powertrain friction and wear reduction; dual fuel technologies; tire efficiency; advanced climate control auxiliary load reduction; and beyond lithium ion technologies.

In addition, the US Department of the Army, under its ‘Advanced Vehicle Power Technology Alliance’ with the Energy Department, will contribute US$3.7 million in co-funding for projects focusing in beyond lithium ion technologies, and reducing friction and wear in the powertrain.

The ‘EV Everywhere Grand Challenge,’ launched in 2012, seeks to convert the US into the first country in the world to produce affordable plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) by 2022. It is part of a series of ‘Clean Energy Grand Challenges’ launched by the US Department of Energy. Through strategic investments, the EV Challenge aims to: improve the competitiveness of US industry and create jobs; enhance national energy security; generate economic savings for households and businesses; and protect human health and safety through mitigating the impact of energy production and use on climate change.

According to the US Department of Energy, significant cost reductions and vehicle performance improvements have dramatically impacted the US automotive market, with growing PEV sales and the cost of battery technology decreasing by 60% since 2009. [US Department of Energy Press Release] [List of Awardees of US Department of Energy Funding] [EV Everywhere Grand Challenge Website]