US suppliers and vehicle manufacturers have been awarded US$8.4m by the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and demonstrate technologies that increase the efficiency of engines and powertrains.
Four projects, located in Michigan, Massachusetts and Wisconsin will focus on new innovations that achieve breakthrough thermal efficiencies while meeting federal emission standards for passenger vehicles – cars and light trucks – as well as commercial vehicles, including long-haul tractor trailers.
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These technologies for engines and powertrains will help automakers and truck engine manufacturers achieve higher efficiencies, while meeting or exceeding the recently-announced vehicle fuel economy standards intended to help reduce US demand for oil imports.
“The Department of Energy is investing in new technologies that will significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, save consumers money, and create skilled jobs for Americans,” said Secretary Steven Chu.
“By encouraging innovations to help make America’s vehicle fleet more fuel efficient, the Obama Administration is working to improve the nation’s energy security and reduce our reliance on imported oil.”
The projects announced today will focus on developing and testing new technologies for engines and powertrains that could reduce cost and address technical barriers currently inhibiting the wider use of advanced engine technologies in the mass market.
Projects will also validate technologies developed at the engine or system level to help ensure these innovations can advance into broad commercial use at a scale needed to reduce vehicle fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions nationally.
The four projects selected for award are: Filter Sensing Technologies, (US$2m), General Motors (US$1.4m), Eaton Corporation (US$2.5m) and Mahle Powertrain (US$2.5m).
The news comes on top of the DOE’s announcement last month of more than US$175m for advanced vehicle research and development projects.
