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Washington, DC - U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced more than $58 million in funding for vehicle technology advancements and released a report highlighting the successes of DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program while touring the newest vehicle technologies at the Washington Auto Show today.

Continuing the Obama Administration’s commitment to supporting the domestic automobile industry, Secretary Moniz announced a $55 million funding opportunity that will solicit projects across vehicle technologies like energy storage, electric drive systems, materials, fuels and lubricants and advanced combustion. Secretary Moniz also announced that two innovative projects at CALSTART and the National Association of Regional Councils will receive $3 million to develop systems that help companies combine their purchasing of advanced vehicles, components, and infrastructure to reduce incremental cost and achieve economies of scale.

These technologies will help save American consumers money and decrease carbon emissions by increasing the fuel efficiency of conventional cars and trucks, while also supporting DOE’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) as affordable to own and operate as today’s gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022.

“Our work refining cars that are efficient, affordable and can plug into the grid will also help propel us to even greater progress on reducing pollution and boosting energy security,” said Secretary Moniz. “These successful investments in next-generation vehicle technologies are a clear example of the impact innovation can have on industry and consumers.”

Since President Obama took office, he has spurred critical investments in the domestic automobile industry. DOE has played an important role in both supporting American automakers and driving U.S. research and development in advanced and efficient vehicles. The ATVM loan program has invested $8 billion in supporting the production of more than four million fuel-efficient cars and creating more than 35,000 direct jobs across eight states.  

Projects supported by this new funding opportunity announced today will develop battery materials, components, and models; advanced electric drive vehicle motors; improve lightweight materials; address grid modernization and showcase plug-in electric vehicles and infrastructure.

DOE will fund cost-shared projects with private industry, national laboratories, and university teams. For more information and application requirements, please visit the EERE Exchange website or Grants.gov. The ATVM report is available at Energy.gov.