If you have a plug-in hybrid powertrain for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that’s ready for commercialization, you may be eligible for a grant from the DOE. The agency has issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0001349) entitled “Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicle Powertrain Electrification and Dual Fuel Fleet Demonstration.”

The objective of the Powertrain Electrification 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.”

The developed technology must be for a PHEV or EV, may be optimized for a typical duty cycle to improve efficiency, and should be flexible to allow cost reductions by scaling and calibrating the powertrains across multiple segments.

Projects will consist of three phases: powertrain development; powertrain integration into a vehicle; and vehicle demonstration. The DOE is encouraging teams that include an electric technology developer, a vehicle manufacturer, and a fleet operator.

The vehicles to be demonstrated must be subjected to operation typical of public transit buses, fire trucks, heavy-duty on-road commercial work trucks, Class 8 long-haul trucks, etc. They must be produced in the USA, and must be commercially available – not experimental, pre-production, or planned for further development.

• Current Closing Date for Applications: Nov 19, 2015
• Estimated Total Program Funding: $11,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $10,000,000
• Award Floor: $500,000

Source: US Department of Energy via Green Car Congress
Image: International Information Program (IIP) (CC BY-SA 2.0)