The DOE’s Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for fiscal year 2015, which spans the range of energy technologies, includes a few EV-related topics. Phase I grants of up to $225,000 will be made to small businesses to evaluate the feasibility of ideas that have commercial potential.

Topics of interest include:

• Fuel Cell-Battery Electric Hybrid for Utility or Municipal Bucket Trucks.
• In-Line Quality Control Devices for PEM Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assembly Materials.
• Electric Drive Vehicle Batteries. Specific improvements of interest include: new low-cost materials; high-voltage and high-temperature non-carbonate electrolytes; improvements in manufacturing processes, speed, or yield; improved cell/pack design; significant improvement in specific energy (Wh/kg) or energy density (Wh/L); and improved safety.
• SiC Schottky Diodes for EV Power Electronics. While lower current (<50 A) SiC Schottky diodes have already penetrated solar and computer power supply manufacturers, >100 A current remains a key threshold for automotive applications. The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) seeks applicants to demonstrate production of >100 A, >600 V rated diodes suitable for use in EV inverters.

To be eligible to submit a Phase I application, you must first submit a Letter of Intent due today, December 15, 2014, 5:00 p.m. EST. Grant applications are due by February 3, 2015, 11:59 p.m. EST.

RELATED: $55 million in new federal funding for vehicle R&D, 19 EV projects

Source: US Department of Energy via Green Car Congress
Image: International Information Program (IIP)/Flickr