The DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has issued a funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001106) to award up to $10 million for projects to accelerate electrification of the cargo transport sector, a worthy mission that has been dubbed Zero Emission Cargo Transport (ZECT).

ZECT technologies are defined as those that produce zero emissions from a cargo-carrying vehicle for all or large portions of its duty cycle. The definition encompasses battery electric, hybrid, plug-in and fuel cell vehicles.

Examples of ZECT technology include heavy-duty on-road trucks or locomotives powered by batteries, fuel cells, overhead catenary wires, or hybrid-electric technologies; or systems in roadbeds or rail lines that propel trucks or trains.

Award recipients will need to deploy and demonstrate a ZECT system over at least two years, during which they will have to collect a wide range of data, including detailed powertrain and battery operational data; vehicle speed, payload and auxiliary electrical loads; data on supporting infrastructure operation, including charge time and energy consumption; and vehicle operating and maintenance costs.

The DOE anticipates making two awards under this funding opportunity, which is open to local governments and private companies, with federal funds matched at a 50% cost share.

Source: Green Car Congress
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