The Biden administration has announced three major pro-EV initiatives in recent months—a revamping of the federal tax credits, an infrastructure funding package, and new EPA emissions standards. However, government programs are always complex, and they tend to undergo major revisions between the proposal and policy stages. To help us sort out how the new policies… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Department of Energy"
Q&A with CharIN North America President: It’s all about interoperability
Interoperability—the ability of products from different manufacturers to work together—is one of the most fundamental enablers of our technological society. From low-tech tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches to digital constructs like computer operating systems, interoperability is critical, and the lack of it is often a roadblock to the adoption of new technologies. As EVs… Read more »
DOE awards $30 million to secure domestic supply chain of critical materials
The DOE has announced $30 million in new funding for 13 national lab and university-led research projects to develop new technologies to help secure the supply of critical clean tech materials, including cobalt, neodymium and platinum. Research funded in this announcement is intended to advance the understanding of how rare-earth elements and platinum group elements… Read more »
DOE awards $43 million to support battery manufacturing innovations
The DOE has announced a new $42.3-million funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002553) to support manufacturing innovations for energy technologies to drive reductions in carbon emissions. The latest FOA is focused on three topic areas: Manufacturing process innovation, including drying process improvements, advanced tooling solutions and sustainable chemistry practices; Advanced materials manufacturing, including the development of aluminum-cerium alloys… Read more »
DOE awards $60 million to 24 emission-reduction R&D projects
The DOE has awarded $60 million in funding to 24 R&D projects aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light- and heavy-duty trucks. The projects, funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Vehicles Technology Office (VTO), address the two largest contributors to transportation-sector emissions. Passenger cars and light-duty… Read more »
Wildcat ramps up its focus on EV Supercell breakthroughs
The lithium-ion battery has proven to be an excellent fuel tank for EVs, but there remains much room for improvement. We’re still far from what’s theoretically achievable in terms of Li-ion capacity, safety, cost and charge times. As battery manufacturers continue their quest for improved chemistry and material combinations, they rely on applied researchers like… Read more »
President Biden’s infrastructure plan includes $174 billion for EV programs
President Biden’s next priority is a massive infrastructure bill, and e-mobility is very much a part of the plan to upgrade and modernize the country’s transportation system. The administration is going big. “The American Jobs Plan will invest in America in a way we have not invested since we built the interstate highways and won… Read more »
DOE: CCS chargers outnumber CHAdeMO in the US
At first glance, the Department of Energy’s latest stats on public fast chargers indicate that we’re in the midst of a thrilling standards war, with the two competitors running neck-and-neck. There are two competing DC fast charging standards in the US (aside from Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger): CHArge de MOve (CHAdeMO), developed by the Japanese and… Read more »
Air pollution returns to “normal,” as new study shows EVs save $10,000 each in health costs
Amid the hardships of the recent pandemic-inspired lockdowns, some saw signs of hope for the future in the clear skies and quiet streets. Could the views of distant mountains from Los Angeles to New Delhi be made permanent? The object lesson provided by the lockdowns was that, if we want cleaner air, we know how… Read more »
DOE to provide $18 million for research on rare earth materials
The US Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to $18 million for basic research to ensure the continued availability of rare earth elements. Neodymium, praseodymium, lanthanum and other rare earth materials are widely used in a variety of technological applications, including EV motors and wind turbines. The research will seek breakthroughs that increase the… Read more »