The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $19 million to support 12 new cost-shared research projects focused on batteries and vehicle electrification technologies to enable extreme fast-charging.

According to the agency, the selected research projects are focused on developing electric vehicle (EV) systems that can recharge rapidly at high power levels – decreasing typical charge times to 15 minutes or less using a connector or wireless fast-charging system.

The DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, part of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, invests in early-stage research to enable private-sector development and commercialization of affordable, energy-efficient transportation technologies that can strengthen energy security, support U.S. economic growth, and offer consumers and businesses additional transportation choices, the agency explains. The projects announced today will help advance the DOE’s research on batteries and electrification to reduce battery pack cost to under $100 per kilowatt-hour, increase range to over 300 miles, and charge in under 15 minutes or less by 2028.

According to the DOE, recharging current EV batteries takes much longer than refueling the average liquid-fueled internal combustion vehicle; slower charge rates are required to allow the lithium-ions to penetrate to the deepest portions of the active material on the electrode. Furthermore, charging at too high of a rate runs the risk of lithium plating, increased battery temperature, and other detrimental side chemical reactions that can decrease life and performance characteristics of the batteries. The nine selected battery projects listed below focus on advanced anodes, electrolytes and battery cell designs that can be charged rapidly – in less than 10 minutes – while still maintaining performance over the 10-year-life goal:

• Regents of the University of California, University of California San Diego (San Diego) – $650,000
• Pennsylvania State University (University Park, Pa.) – $1,000,000
• Regents of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.) – $1,500,000
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (Menlo Park, Calif.) – $1,500,000
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) – $900,000
• Microvast Inc. (Orlando, Fla.) – $1,500,000
• Research Foundation for the State University of New York – Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, N.Y.) – $800,000
• University of Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.) – $720,000
• Coulometrics LLC (Chattanooga, Tenn.) – $1,000,000

The three selected electrification projects listed below will develop and verify electric drive systems and infrastructure for EV extreme fast-charging, which increases charging power levels from current home charging at 7 kW to power levels up to 400 kW. They will also reduce typical charging times from 8 hours down to 15 minutes or less:

• Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification Inc. (Salt Lake City, Utah) – $4,300,000
• Delta Products Corp. (Fremont, Calif.) – $3,500,000
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) – $2,200,000

More information on the projects can be found here.

Kenworth has debuted its new T680 tractor equipped with a parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system.

The special Kenworth T680 vehicle is part of the Hybrid Emission Cargo Transport (HECT) demonstration project, funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The T680 HECT truck uses the Cummins Westport ISL G near-zero-emission engine fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), as well as a generator to extend the truck’s battery range. The truck has a 30-mile zero-emissions range using the electricity stored in the lithium-ion batteries. When the batteries are depleted, the near-zero-emission engine turns on to generate more energy and extend the truck’s range up to 250 miles.

Kenworth’s partner in developing the truck’s parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system is BAE Systems. The system’s energy management and control capabilities ensure that energy generated by the engine and regenerative braking system is appropriately distributed through the dual-rotor electric motor, resulting in lower fuel consumption, the partners explain.

“Our near-zero-emission hybrid-electric Kenworth T680 has been developed to evaluate potential alternatives to diesel power for commercial vehicles,” states Stephan Olsen, Kenworth’s director of product planning. “We believe that in certain applications, such as drayage and regional hauling, the T680 HECT truck will be an excellent solution for local clean air regulations while delivering performance our customers expect. Later this year, when the truck is placed into service with Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, we anticipate it will perform equally – or even better than – current diesel trucks.”

Source: ngtnews

FTA today announced the opportunity for its grantees to apply for up to $84.45 million in competitive grant funds through FTA’s Low or No Emission (Low-No) Bus Program. The Low-No Program supports projects sponsored by local transit agencies to bring advanced, American-made bus technologies such as battery electric power and hydrogen fuel cells into service nationwide.

FTA will award the grants to eligible recipients, which include public transit agencies, state transportation departments, and tribes on a competitive basis. Projects will be evaluated by criteria defined in federal law and in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), including the applicant’s demonstration of need; the project’s benefits; project implementation strategy; and capacity for implementing the project. The application deadline is June 18, 2018.

Links:

• Low-No Notice of Funding Press Release: U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $84 Million Funding Opportunity for Technologically Advanced Transit Buses
• Low or No Emission Bus Program

Register HERE to join RNG Coalition staff and fellow member representatives for the RNG Coalition’s 2018 RNG Summit in Washington, DC May 14-15. Registration is required.

View the Schedule for 2018 RNG Summit events HERE.

Registrants will have the opportunity to participate in a Policy Forum, to meet with and educate key Congressional Members and their Staffs on Capitol Hill, and to network with fellow stakeholders.

View the Policy Forum Schedule HERE.

Networking opportunities include an evening reception, orientation breakfast, lunch, and concluding the 2018 RNG Summit on the evening of May 15 in a suite at Washington Nationals ballpark. The Nationals will host the New York Yankees at 7 pm. A limited number of tickets are available.

Secure Your Host, Sponsorship & Exhibit Space for RNG WORKS 2018, September 11-12

CLICK HERE to review Host, Sponsorship and Exhibit opportunities for RNG WORKS (Sept. 11-12)— a two day technical workshop and trade expo to be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.

90,000 square feet has been reserved to facilitate this year’s RNG WORKS. RNG project operators, vendors, technology and service providers, manufacturers, marketers, transporters, end-users and customers are encouraged to register to attend, exhibit and participate in promoting best practices across the RNG industry.

Registration is included for RNG Coalition Members who secure Exhibit space. RNG Coalition members will also benefit from a reduced registration rate (Members: $500 / Non-Members $850). Registration is required and will open soon.

For more information, to share your abstract ideas, presentation papers or suggestions for the RNG WORKS 2018 program, please contact RNG Coalition Staff.

UH Engineer Says DOE-Funded Work Will Capture Methane, Other Emissions

Thanks to advances in drilling technology, there is enough natural gas in the U.S. to last well into next century and beyond. This has renewed the idea of using inexpensive, domestically produced natural gas as a transportation fuel.

Primarily made up of methane, natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than gasoline or diesel when it comes to hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides, but the undesired “slip” of unreacted methane can reduce that advantage because methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

The U.S. Department of Energy has chosen a team led by a chemical engineer from the University of Houston for a $2 million project to develop and optimize a lower-cost, more efficient catalyst to eliminate unreacted methane.

Michael Harold, chairman of the UH Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, will work with Lars Grabow, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UH, and researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Virginia and CDTi Inc., an emissions technology company based in Oxnard, Calif.

Natural gas combustion produces far less carbon dioxide than gasoline or diesel combustion.  Methane – the primary component of natural gas – wasn’t considered a concern until recently, partly because it hasn’t been associated with the health risks linked to carbon dioxide. But it is a much more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2, making an effective catalyst crucial for wider adoption of natural gas vehicles.

Harold, an expert in catalytic reaction engineering, said the team will focus on the so-called “four-way catalyst,” building on the three-way catalysts used with gasoline and diesel engines. Those simultaneously convert nonmethane hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The new catalyst will also convert methane.

A critical aspect of the work is to reduce the use of precious metals, lowering the cost. Traditional vehicle exhaust catalysts rely on platinum, palladium and rhodium, which are effective but expensive.

The new four-way catalyst will test the use of metal oxides containing lower-cost elements iron, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel and others. Those metals are less effective, as well as less expensive, and Harold said the design may still require the use of a small amount of precious metals to meet emission control targets. CDTi’s Spinel™ technology will be a key element in developing a new class of high-performance catalysts with low levels of precious metals for natural gas engine emissions control.

The process is likely to involve the development of a new material, work Grabow will pursue using atomistic computational modeling, while CDTi’s Steve Golden will lead the catalyst development and commercialization effort.
“The project brings together a significant market opportunity with our innovative Spinel materials, coupled with the state-of-the-art characterization and testing capability of the University of Houston and the other key partners,” Golden said.

Once a prototype has been synthesized and tested with simulated exhaust, Harold said it will be tested at the Texas Center for Clean Engines, Emissions & Fuels, a research, development and testing center based at the UH Energy Research Park.

“We’re working on something that’s important for the country,” Harold said. “We have a surplus of natural gas, and we are helping break down barriers for its expanded use.”

Deadline is June 12, 2018

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is excited to announce the availability of approximately $40 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) funds to support projects aimed at reducing emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of older diesel engines.  Under this competition, between 20 and 80 awards are anticipated to be made to eligible applicants.

Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, or port authorities, with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality.  Nonprofit organizations may apply if they provide pollution reduction or educational services to diesel fleet owners or have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.

Learn More:  www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants

Informational Webinars on Request for Proposals

May 1, 2018, 2:00-3:30 pm (ET)
Join at epawebconferencing.acms.com/dera18a/

May 3, 2018, 3:00-4:30 pm (ET)
Join at epawebconferencing.acms.com/dera18b/

Dial-In: (202) 991-0477     Participant Code: 4149804#

If you have questions, please contact CleanDiesel@epa.gov.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for states, cities and other agencies to compete for $60 million in Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program (ATCMTD) grants to fund new technologies that improve transportation efficiency and safety.

“These grants promote the use of cutting-edge technology to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Brandye L. Hendrickson. “Innovation will improve connections between rural communities and provide all Americans with safer transportation options.”

Created in the “Fixing America’s Surface Transportation” Act, the ATCMTD program works to improve the performance of U.S. transportation systems, reduce traffic congestion and improve the safety of the traveling public.

Now in its third round of grants, FHWA is interested in projects that bring data together from different systems, such as integrated corridor management, real-time traveler information, traffic data collection and dissemination, and other intelligent transportation system technologies.

State departments of transportation, local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations and other eligible entities are invited to apply under the program. The program has provided $110 million to 18 projects in 13 states in 2016 and 2017, including the Virginia Port Authority’s truck reservation system, as well as enhancements to existing projects with proven successes, such as the Florida Department of Transportation’s Sunstore integrated data system for travelers, Pittsburgh’s SmartPGH to connect communities to transportation, and California’s GoPort freight project in Alameda County.

FHWA Press Release: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa1806.cfm

Funding Opportunity: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=303763

Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fastact/factsheets/advtranscongmgmtfs.cfm

Texas Department of Transportation Promotes Awareness of Natural Gas Fueling Stations

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is installing compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) signs on designated highways near fueling stations in Austin, Dallas, DeSoto, Houston, Irving, Longview and Tyler.

TXDOT is expeditiously implementing this program as requested by the legislature to complete the installation of these alternative fuel signs along the designated highways (19 locations) in the Houston District.

TxDOT is promoting awareness and availability of natural gas fueling stations in Texas in accordance with Senator Zaffirini who said. “The signs will help increase public awareness of alternative fuel corridors in our region and state, while improving travel for drivers and commercial fleets using CNG and LNG vehicles”.

Look for these signs that are either already installed or coming soon on the designated corridors in Houston.

Propane is eligible under the newly expanded grant program

This month, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced a grand round of $15.4M for their newly expanded Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program (TNGVGP). The grant program funds the replacement older diesel or gasoline medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles with CNG, LNG and now LPG (propane) vehicles operating in the Clean Transportation Zone, an 83 county area of Texas.

Propane was added to Texas Senate Bill 1731 in the 85th Legislative session since it is Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) and is too homegrown, found right here in Texas.

“The Propane Council of Texas is excited to educate fleets on this new opportunity to add clean-burning propane vehicles on Texas roads,” says Jackie Mason, Education & Marketing Director for the Council.

Propane is a great option for fleets, because it is economical, domestically-produced, widely available fuel, and contributes to cleaner air. The propane industry has engineered a multitude of platforms that are eligible for the program from medium-duty trucks to school buses that government and business fleets as well as school districts who can upgrade, too.

Funding under the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program varies dependent on the model year of the vehicle, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), and fuel type of the vehicle, the entity is replacing. Click here to download the grant guidelines.

For more information or to contact the Propane Council of Texas, visit www.fuelingtexas.com.

From Basketballs to Baseballs, Here’s Your Texas Natural Gas Vehicle & Station Updates!

April 12 Member Meeting: Momentum Fuel Technologies: Roanoke, Texas
On Thursday, April 12, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Momentum Fuel Technologies facility with lunch following.  Momentum Fuel Technologies, headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the industry’s first complete compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system solution for Class 6-8 vehicles. A division of Rush Enterprises, the company officially launched in 2015 and is a vertically-integrated provider of fuel system solutions, featuring state-of-the-art engineering, design and manufacturing processes, complete system installation capabilities, and the industry’s most comprehensive sales, service and support network. For more information, please visit www.momentumfueltechnologies.com.

Please note: To curtail no shows, lunch will cost: $15 Pre-Registered Online or $20 after the deadline.  Payment will be at the door (cash or check only).  Please Pre-Register by Tuesday, April 10 by 5:00 pm.

To register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/greater-houston-ngv-alliance-meeting-april-12-roanoke-tx-tickets-44548466663