Automakers receive plug-in hybrid subsidies
The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) market may pick up more steam after $30 million in funding was recently announced. According to SustainableBusiness.com, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is funding $30 million over three years for PHEV projects, with the aim of accelerating mass production of PHEVs capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging. The projects will also address roadblocks in achieving the DOE's goal of making PHEVs cost-competitive by 2014 and ready for commercialization by 2016. The selected projects will be developed between 2008 and 2011 and will take place in geographically diverse regions to identify performance, operation, and fuel economy in a real-world environment, the report adds. Project recipients include General Motors, which has been selected for negotiation of an award for a project aimed at enhancement of lithium-ion battery packs, charging systems, powertrain development, vehicle integration and vehicle validation; Ford, which has been selected for negotiation of an award for a project to identify a pathway that accelerates commercial mass-production of PHEVs, a project that will focus on development of battery systems and deployment of prototype PHEVs; and General Electric, which has been selected for negotiation of an award for a demonstration of PHEVs that relies upon a dual-battery energy storage system capable of 40 miles accumulated electric driving range, which will focus on developing the dual-battery energy storage system in parallel with vehicle integration. GE is partnering with Chrysler for this project. In other PHEV news, Mitsubishi recently announced plans to introduce plug-in hybrids by 2013. |