DOE to Offer $162M in Funding to Reduce Vehicle Emissions

The Department of Energy has unveiled two funding opportunities for research projects promoting efficiency and reduced carbon emissions among cars, trucks and off-road vehicles.

The first funding opportunity, valued at $100 million, is targeted at projects supporting the next stage of the department’s SuperTruck initiative. Up to $62.8 million will also be allotted for the research, development and demonstration of low greenhouse gas vehicle technologies, the DOE said Thursday.

The SuperTruck 3 initiative is the DOE’s way of pioneering electrified medium- and heavy-duty trucks and freight system concepts with greater efficiency and lower emissions compared to previous SuperTruck efforts.

The first iteration of SuperTruck, which was launched in 2009, sought to improve heavy-duty truck freight efficiency by 50 percent. SuperTruck 2 followed in 2016, with the goal of doubling fuel efficiency for 18-wheeler trucks.

For SuperTruck 3, the DOE is interested in different approaches to electrification, including all-electric, plug-in hybrid systems using renewable biofuels, and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

The department is also looking for low greenhouse gas vehicle solutions to make on- and off-road vehicles greener. Proposals may include demonstrations focused on lowering barriers to electric vehicle adoption, such as installing EV charging within multi-unit housing, and projects for developing advanced engines and fuels that operate with lower emissions.

Interested parties have until May 13 to submit concept papers. Full applications must be submitted no later than July 12.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressed commitment to reducing emissions from the transportation sector, which she considers the largest source of emissions, to achieve the goal of having net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.