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DOE V2X MOU

On April 21, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the signing of a Vehicle to Everything (V2X) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which is intended to bring together cutting-edge resources from DOE, DOE national labs, state and local governments, utilities, and private entities to evaluate technical and economic feasibility as we integrate bidirectional charging into energy infrastructure. The MOU is also intended to advance cybersecurity as a core component of V2X charging infrastructure.

According to DOE, bidirectional plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) present immense potential for increasing the country's energy security, resilience, economic vitality, and quality of life while supporting the electrical grid. A bidirectional EV fleet could serve as both a sustainable mobility option as well as an energy storage asset that sends power back to everything from critical loads and homes to the grid. A bidirectional fleet could also create new revenue opportunities for EV owners or fleets.

DOE also announced that it will tackle the technical challenges and barriers to the integration of tens of millions of EVs with the electric grid, commonly referred to as Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI) through the [email protected] lab consortium, which brings together six DOE national laboratories to conduct RD&D in the areas of Smart Charge Management, High Power Charging and Facilities, dynamic Wireless Charging, Codes and Standards, and Cyber Physical Security. In addition to addressing the near-term challenges to VGI to benefit all EV stakeholders, the Lab Consortium will conduct high risk, high reward research on the EV charging and grid integration technologies the U.S. will need in the future.

This collaboration can accelerate and enable bidirectional PEV integration into the electrical grid by identifying and resolving barriers, accelerating commercialization and customer adoption, factoring in security by design, and improving coordination between the electric and automotive sectors through establishing cybersecure bidirectional charging station demonstrations, collecting and analyzing demonstration data, and preparing technoeconomic analyses to evaluate the business case for V2X.

Participants in the V2X MOU include DOE’s Offices of Vehicle Technologies, Electricity, Technology Transitions, and Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, as well as The California Energy Commission, The California Public Utilities Commission, The City of Lancaster and City of Lancaster Community Choice Aggregator, The City of Los Angeles, Fermata Energy, First Student, Ford Motor Company, General Motors LLC, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers– Chapter 11, Lion Electric Inc., Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Lucid Group, Inc. (Lucid Motors), the National Electrical Contractors Association – Los Angeles, Nissan, Nuvve Holding Corp., Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Rhombus, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and Zeem Solutions.

A copy of the complete Memorandum of Understanding can be found here.

Regulatory and Legislative Tracking Reports for Vehicle Manufacturers and Suppliers

Since 1999, Kardos & Associates LLC has supplied the auto industry with the most comprehensive regulatory and legislative tracking reports available. We currently offer clients the following:

Motor Vehicle Safety & Emissions Regulatory Update (the REG UPDATE)

The REG UPDATE has been tracking US and Canadian regulatory activity impacting the auto industry for over twenty years. Regulations developed by the NHTSA, FMCSA, EPA, FCC, CARB, Transport Canada, and Environment Canada are the focus. For each rulemaking, the Reg Update provides a description of the rulemaking, comment deadlines, effective dates, a docket reference, and links to documents available online. Deadlines and critical path items are color-coded so that you can quickly identify what’s new and important. In addition to being an excellent tool for tracking regulatory activity, the Reg Update is a great archive of past actions. The report contains information on virtually every rulemaking affecting automakers from the past two decades. Approximately 400 pages in length.

U.S. Safety & Fuel Economy Regulatory & Legislative Update
The U.S. Safety & Fuel Economy Regulatory & Legislative Update provides a snapshot of the past month’s legislative and regulatory activities relating to safety, emissions and fuel economy. The report provides brief summaries of notices issued by DOT, EPA, CARB and others. With regard to federal legislation, the report covers newly introduced bills, information on committee hearings, etc. Activities at the state level pertaining to emerging technologies (e.g., automated vehicles, advance driver assistance systems, EVs and EV infrastructure, etc.) are also covered.

Federal Legislation Tracking Report
Our legislative tracking report focuses on matters relating to environment and energy, safety and fuel economy/climate change. The report covers two years-worth of bills (the length of each Congressional session) and includes summaries and status updates for each tracked bill. Links to bill text and related information are provided.

All of our reports are distributed monthly via email as a PDF. Subscribers also get access to an online archive of past reports.

For pricing, contact Dale Kardos at (202) 3064997 or [email protected]. For more information about Kardos & Associates LLC, see www.kardosllc.com.

For a PDF of this information, click here.

Vehicle Innovation Act

On October 12, 2017, Rep. Dingell (D-MI) introduced The Vehicle Innovation Act (H.R. 4050) which reauthorizes the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, which works with manufacturers and suppliers to research, develop and deploy advanced vehicle technologies that improve energy efficiency. The bill also provides DOE with clear direction to build on successful research programs, such as the SuperTruck program that has produced a model tractor trailer with 115 percent increase in fuel efficiency. It also encourages the development of a wide array of technologies that have the potential to improve fuel efficiency and reduce traffic congestion, including V2V communications systems, mild hybrids, engine down speeding, hydrogen and natural gas refueling, and electric vehicle charging technology.  The bill has been referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Vehicle Technologies Office FY2016 Funding Opportunity

On Jan. 21, 2016, DOE released DE-FOA-00001384 which requests proposals to apply for funding to conduct research relating to critical technologies needed to meet the Administration’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge.  $55.5 million in funding is available. Proposals are sought with regard to the following areas of interest:

• EV Everywhere Plug-in EV Local Showcases
• Grid Modernization for EVs
• Accelerated Development of Low Cost Automotive Mg sheet Components
• Corrosion protection and dissimilar material joining for next gen lightweight vehicles
• Advances for the production of low cost EV motors
• Development of advanced high voltage electrolytes and additives, conformable and self-healing solid state electrolytes and lithium metal protection
• Development of advanced battery material characterization techniques
• Advanced battery materials modeling
• Enabling technologies for engine and powertrain systems
• Alt fuel vehicle workplace safety programs
• Open topic/exploratory research

Please note that for this FOA, 100% of all direct labor must be in the U.S.

Concept papers are due 2/28 and full applications are due 3/28.  A webinar is scheduled for 1/28 at 2 pm.

For more information, click here.

DOE Vehicle Technologies Office FY 2016 Program-Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement

On Dec. 18, 2016, DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office issued a Notice of Intent (DE-FOA-0001462) to make interested parties aware of its plan to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled “FY 2016 Vehicle Technologies Program-Wide Funding Opportunity Announcement.” Per DOE’s announcement, it is anticipated the FOA will include the following areas of interest:

1) EV Everywhere Plug-in Electric Vehicle (PEV) and Infrastructure Showcases

2) Grid Modernization for Electric Vehicles

3) Accelerated Development and Deployment of Low-Cost Automotive Magnesium (Mg) Sheet Components

4) Corrosion Protection and Dissimilar Material Joining for Next-Generation Lightweight Vehicles

5) Advances for the Production of Low Cost Electric Drive Vehicle Motors

6) Development of Advanced High-Voltage Electrolytes and Additives, Solid State Electrolytes and Lithium Metal Protection

7) Advanced Battery Component Material Diagnostics

8) Advanced Battery Materials Modeling

9) Enabling Technologies for Engine and Powertrain Systems

10) Emission Control Strategies for Advanced Combustion Engines

11) Alternative Fuel Vehicle Workplace Safety Programs

12) Open Topic/Exploratory Research

For more information, please refer to the Notice of Intent.

Vehicle Innovation Act (S.1408)

On May 20, 2015, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with Lamar Alexander (R-TN), introduced the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act (VIA) to promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies that will create more fuel efficient vehicles, reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil and support American auto manufacturers.

The Vehicle Innovation Act reauthorizes the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program, which works with light duty automobile and medium and heavy duty commercial truck manufacturers and suppliers to conduct research and development to improve fuel efficiency in vehicles.

The bill directs the Department of Energy to partner with public and private sector entities to promote technology-neutral research and investment which will include a diverse array of technologies including hybrids, battery electric vehicles and natural gas-powered vehicles, that will reduce our dependence on imported oil, support domestic research and development and grow our advanced manufacturing industry in the United States.

The Vehicle Technologies Program has been operating without Congressional authorization for over seven years, and in that time, new technologies and new applications of existing technologies have been developed. The bill will encourage further research and development of technologies including mild hybrid, engine down speeding, power pack modeling and testing, advanced boosting systems, new vehicle sensing and communication, hydrogen and natural gas refueling and electric vehicle charging technology. The legislation will also give the Department of Energy critical resources to focus on near-term developments that could lead to significant fuel savings for the national fleet if widely used. 

The legislation authorizes $313.6 million in funding for FY2016, and a four percent increase to each year after that through 2020, providing a consistent growth in funding to keep up with emerging technologies.

The Vehicle Innovation Act also includes provisions to specifically include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications systems, collectively referred to as V2X. V2X technology has the potential to dramatically reduce traffic accidents and traffic congestion by allowing cars to communicate with one another and recognize dangers beyond what a vehicle’s radar, cameras or other sensors can detect.

The bill is supported by organizations including the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the BlueGreen Alliance, the Auto Alliance and NTEA, the Association for the Work Truck Industry. 

Electric Vehicle Readiness

Last month, the Department of Energy released its Guide to the Lessons Learned from the Clean Cities Community Electric Vehicle Readiness Projects.   This report summarizes the lessons learned from 16 government, educational and nonprofit groups that received grants to advance the deployment of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). Participants in projects across 24 states and the District of Columbia assessed the barriers to and opportunities for PEV deployment in their regions and prepared and executed readiness plans. The report is designed to be an accessible primer to the key issues in PEV deployment and a roadmap to the detailed research, toolkits, and sample language for local policies contained in the readiness plans.

DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee

On March 5, 2014, DOE published a notice in the Federal Register announcing an open meeting of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC).  The meeting will take place April 1-2 at the DOE headquarters in Washington, DC.  On the agenda for this meeting is: 

- HTAC Business

- DOE Leadership Updates

- Program and Budget Updates

- HTAC Subcommittee Updates

-  Open discussion period

Persons interesting in participating in the meeting must register no later than 5 pm on Wed, March 26 by emailing [email protected]  Foreign nationals must regiater by March 14, 2014.  Those who cannot attend are invited to send written comments.  Minutes of the meeting will be available for public review at http://hydrogen.energy.gov/advisory_htac.html.

Energy Department Study Examines Potential to Reduce Transportation Petroleum Use and Carbon Emissions

On March 14, 2013, DOE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory released a new study that finds the United States has the potential to reduce petroleum use and GHG emissions in the transportation sector by more than 80% by 2050. The Transportation Energy Futures (TEF) study identifies possible paths to a low-carbon, low-petroleum future in the U.S. transportation sector.

The transportation sector accounts for 71% of total U.S. petroleum consumption and 33% of our nation's total carbon emissions. The TEF study assesses the avenues and identifies possible strategies to achieve deep cuts in petroleum use and GHG emissions in this sector. According to the study, achieving deep reductions will require an inclusive approach, combining strategies to increase fuel economy for all types of vehicles, reduce use of transportation while providing comparable service, and expand use of low-carbon fuels, including biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen.

The nine reports that are part of the TEF study include:

Light Duty Vehicles (Personal Cars and Light Trucks)

• Deployment pathways issues including the development of, transition to, and challenges of advanced technology
• Non-cost barriers to advanced vehicles such as range anxiety, refueling availability, technology reliability, and consumer familiarity.

Non-Light-Duty Vehicles (Trucks, Rail, Aircraft, and Other Modes)

• Opportunities to improve non-light-duty vehicle efficiency for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, off-road vehicles and equipment, aircraft, marine vessels, and railways
• Opportunities for switching modes of transporting freight, such as moving freight from trucks to rail and ships.

Fuels

• Infrastructure expansion required for deployment of low-GHG fuels, including electricity, biofuels, hydrogen, and natural gas
• Balance of biomass resource demand and supply, including allocations for various transportation fuels, electric generation, and other applications.

Transportation Demand

• Opportunities to save energy and abate GHG emissions through community development and built environment strategies
• Trip reduction through mass transit, tele-working, tele-shopping, carpooling, and improvement of vehicle performance through efficient driving
• Freight demand patterns, including trends in operational needs and projections of future use levels.

Click here for more information. 

Department of Energy Announces New Funding to Advance Plug-in Electric Vehicle Technologies

On March 08, 2013, DOE announced more than $50 million in funding for new projects that will accelerate the development of advanced plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technologies to increase vehicle fuel economy and improve performance. This new funding supports the Energy Department's EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, which aims to make PEVs as affordable to own and operate as today's gasoline-powered vehicles within the next 10 years, and will help to advance the technology goals outlined in the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge Blueprint.

The Energy Department will select new research projects that focus on lowering the cost and increasing the efficiency of PEV components, as well as the development of models and tools to predict these vehicles' performance and help improve fuel economy. The Department will fund projects across five major areas of research and development that cover 12 areas of interest, including:

• Advanced lightweighting and propulsion materials: Advanced materials are essential to reducing vehicle weight while maintaining performance and safety, especially in PEVs. Projects selected in this area will contribute to research in cast magnesium alloys, high-strength steel, and dissimilar material joining.
• Advanced battery development: Advances in battery technology can result in less expensive, more efficient batteries that can enable greater all-electric range. Projects selected in this area will improve cell chemistry, composition, and processing; contribute to battery modeling; or develop advanced electrolytes for next generation lithium-ion cells.
• Power electronics: Improving power electronics can lower the cost, improve the efficiency, and decrease the weight of electric traction systems in PEVs. Projects selected in this area will develop lower-cost inverters and capacitors that are capable of withstanding much higher temperatures than current technology and can be commercially manufactured.
• Advanced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems: Auxiliary loads like heating and cooling have a greater impact on the efficiency of PEVs than conventional vehicles. High efficiency heating and cooling systems can significantly increase all-electric driving range while providing a comfortable temperature for passengers. Projects selected in this area will develop and demonstrate technologies to reduce these auxiliary loads.
• Fuels and lubricants: Fuels and lubricants can increase the efficiency of both future vehicles and those already on the road. Projects selected in this area are expected to improve the fuel efficiency of light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The Department will accept applications from industry, national laboratories, and university led-teams to address these challenges and enable technologies that will drive innovation in vehicle design.  For more information, click here.