The Vehicle Technologies Office conducts research and development across a number of technologies, from combustion engines to batteries for all-electric vehicles. VTO provides financial and non-financial resources to researchers at universities, national laboratories, and private companies.
Funding and Tools for Researchers
- VTO’s Funding page lists active financial solicitations related to transportation that are open for applications. Researchers are encouraged to apply through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Funding Opportunity Exchange system.
- The Small Business Innovations Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs provide funding for small businesses and allow the companies to keep the rights to any technology developed.
- Modeling and Simulation software available through DOE’s National Laboratories allows designers to accurately model and evaluate “virtual vehicles.”
- Software for analyzing transportation systems can help researchers understand the interactions of various vehicle technologies with greenhouse gas emissions, oil use, and consumer behavior.
- The Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity collects laboratory and real-world data on advanced vehicles that researchers can use for benchmarking purposes.
Presentations on VTO Research and Development
- The Directions in Efficiency and Emissions Reduction (DEER) conference is one of the industry’s foremost events for discussing research in combustion engine, emission control, fuels, and high-performance lubricant technologies.
- At the Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting, shared by VTO and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program, investigators funded by DOE present their projects to be reviewed by fellow researchers.
Research Areas
The office supports research in a number of major areas, guided by VTO's Multi-Year Program Plan and Research Roadmaps. VTO's Annual Progress Reports and Success Stories describe the positive results from the office’s research and development projects.
- Energy Storage: Research in energy storage increases researchers' understanding of the fundamental chemistries and materials associated with advanced batteries; optimizing next-generation, high-energy lithium-ion electrochemistries that incorporate new materials; and developing robust battery cells and modules.
- Advanced Combustion Engines: Research in advanced combustion engines aims to increase the efficiency of the engine itself, control engine exhaust emissions more efficiently, and recover energy from engine waste heat.
- Electric Drive Technologies: Research in electric drive technologies focuses on improving power electronics and electric motors, with a special focus on further developing wide bandgap devices and motor designs that reduce or eliminate rare earth materials.
- Fuels and Lubricants: Research in fuels and lubricants improves the understanding of how fuels from new sources affect advanced combustion systems, supports the development of natural gas engines, determines the impact of biofuels' properties on engines, and develops lubricants that improve vehicles' fuel economy.
- Materials: Research in vehicle materials works to lower the cost and improve the properties of lightweight materials and meet requirements for propulsion materials needed to develop cost-effective and efficient next-generation powertrains (materials for electric drive systems, materials for advanced combustion engines, materials for energy recovery and emissions control, and materials by design).