Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research Projects Receive $19 Million Boost from DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy selected five next-generation vehicle research projects to receive as much as $19.2 million for development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). Support of the research projects is part of DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program, which seeks to promote President Bush’s Twenty in Ten Plan to cut U.S. gas consumption by 20 percent within the decade. The Vehicle Technologies Program works to develop technologies that also decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and ensure a strong competitive position for the U.S. transportation industry in global markets. The DOE hopes that these projects will also give speed to the effort to address issues availability of alternative vehicles for the larger public.

The research projects aim to increase efficiency of and reduce the cost, weight, and size of electric drive and power converter systems. The research will pursue advancements in four areas:

• high-temperature three-phase inverters
• high-speed motors
• integrated traction drive systems
• bidirectional DC-to-DC converters

Those receiving the funding include:

• Delphi Automotive Systems. The Michigan supplier of mobile electronics and transportation systems has been chosen for negotiation of an award of up to $4.9 million for high-temperature three-phase inverter research. Dow Corning, GE Global Research, GeneSiC, Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory complete the team.

• Virginia Tech. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University of Blacksburg, Virginia, is set for negotiation of up to $1.7 million for development efforts for an advanced soft-switching inverter for reducing switching and power losses. The team also includes Azure Dynamics, Powerex, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

• GE Global Research. The Niskayuna, New York, industrial research lab has been selected for negotiation of up to $3.4 million for development of high-speed electric motors, and more specifically, increasing traction motor drive power density and efficiency at reduced costs for electric motors of at least 55 kW peak power that are capable of operating at high speeds, the goal being 14,000 RPM. Team members include GE Motors and the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

• General Motors Corporation. The world’s largest automaker will negotiate for an award of up to $7.9 million for the development of a combined traction motor and power electronic inverter that will lower costs, weight, and package volume and increase efficiency. Other team members include Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Ames National Laboratory, Arnold Magnetics, Encap Technologies, Isothermal Systems Research, and AVX.

• U.S. Hybrid Corporation. The California-based designer and manufacturer of integrated power conversion components have been selected for an award of up to $1.3 million for a bidirectional DC-to-DC converter for PHEVs. The research will include a vehicle system study to determine the optimal operating battery and DC-link voltages for higher efficiency and lower costs. Also making up the team are the University of Illinois, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and SiCED.

The DOE offers these awards as part of the FreedomCar and Vehicle Technologies Program whose long-term goal is to nurture leapfrog technologies that give the U.S. driving public freedom of mobility, energy security, and reduced environmental impacts, all at falling costs.

15 Inverness Way East • Englewood, CO 80112-5776 • USA
Tel: 303-397-7956 • 800-854-7179 • Fax: 303-397-2740
webstore: store.ihs.com