A recent analysis from the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has confirmed the value of something that several automakers are already investigating: repurposing used EV batteries for stationary storage applications. The NREL found that battery second use (B2U) strategies are capable of offsetting the costs of recycling vehicles at the end of their lives,… Read more »
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DOE report examines opportunities for US battery manufacturers
Asia currently dominates automotive lithium-ion cell production – it controls around 79% of the market. However, a recent report by the DOE’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Analysis Center (CEMAC) found that the US has a growing opportunity in the industry, which is expected to swell from the current $9 billion to $14.3 billion by 2020. The… Read more »
Small businesses score DOE funding for EV technology R&D
The DOE has selected 162 projects to receive $26.6 million in the 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) awards. About 16 of these are vehicle-related, encompassing such technologies as batteries, power electronics and hydrogen fuel cells. Under the SBIR and STTR programs, federal agencies with large R&D budgets set aside… Read more »
Does cheaper gas mean that fuel efficiency standards need to be relaxed?
It may not be time to panic yet, but auto industry pundits are parsing some recent comments by a DOT official suggesting that the EPA may consider watering down federal fuel efficiency standards that are scheduled to take effect in 2022. A midterm review of the CAFE regulations is coming up, beginning with a report… Read more »
Does Tesla’s latest software update really end range anxiety?
The buildup was pretty big: earlier this week, Elon Musk’s tweeted that an upcoming software update for Model S would “end range anxiety.” The reality – announced at a press conference today – is neat, but perhaps not quite so game-changing. Software version 6.2, which is expected to be enabled in the next 10 days,… Read more »
DOE announces $55 million in new loans for cutting-edge vehicle technologies
Five years ago this week, the DOE finalized its Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan to Tesla Motors, which paid back the $465-million loan nine years early. So it seems like a propitious date to announce a new program that will make over $55 million in loans available for “cutting-edge vehicle technologies that strengthen the clean… Read more »
DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Incubator offers $14 million for innovative projects
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has released a new funding opportunity (FOA) to support innovative transportation technologies. This Vehicle Technologies Incubator FOA (not to be confused with ARPA-E’s OPEN 2015 FOA, which was also recently announced) will award a total of $14 million, and is open to “proposals that aim… Read more »
DOE and electric utilities produce report on EV charging impact
A new report from the DOE describes the findings from six Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) projects, in which electric utilities around the country evaluated operations and customer charging behaviors for home and public EV charging stations. The report, Evaluating Electric Vehicle Charging Impacts and Customer Charging Behaviors, is intended to help utilities determine how… Read more »
Does Tesla’s Gigafactory have water worries?
Tesla’s Gigafactory, now under construction in northern Nevada, is expected to offer some 6,000 manufacturing jobs, which will be welcome in a state whose economy is dependent on gambling and tourism. Most are enthusiastic about the new development, but there are questions about whether local resources and infrastructure will be adequate. As always in this… Read more »
DOE offers funding for research into fuel cells, batteries, Schottky diodes
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… Read more »