The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has awarded $17 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects to help small businesses develop prototype technologies in a wide range of renewable energy and transportation-related fields.

These awards are for Phase II SBIR projects to further develop Phase I projects and produce a prototype or equivalent within two years.

“Small businesses employ half of America’s workers and create two out of every three new jobs in the US,” said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Danielson. “By supporting small businesses and driving American leadership in clean energy innovation, we can create new job and business opportunities, strengthen US competitiveness in a growing global market and provide more clean, affordable energy to communities across the country.” 

Among the 17 projects are several related to electromobility, including:

• Mainstream Engineering of Rockledge, Florida is developing a hybrid electric turbocharger that reduces fuel consumption and improves drivability by shortening the transient response time (reducing turbo lag) during acceleration.
• XG Sciences of Lansing, Michigan will develop a Li-ion battery anode material for EV applications using graphene platelet silicon stabilization technology and advanced hydrogel-type binders to overcome the technical challenges with silicon anode self-pulverization and solid-electrolyte interphase instability.
• nGimat of Lexington, Kentucky is working on composite coatings for motor windings. This project will provide improved heat management in EV motors through development of winding wire insulations with superior thermal management characteristics.

Source: DOE via Green Car Congress
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