Encouraging news of a fund for demonstration projects came just
before the holidays from the Energy Department's Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), headed by Assistant Secretary
Andy Karsner, who has been a strong advocate for PHEVs. Its Office of
Vehicle Technologies (OVT) Program
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/ with the National
Energy Technology Laboratory http://www.netl.doe.gov/ has put out a
request for proposals for "Plug In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Technology
Acceleration and Deployment Activity."

The program hopes to make 1-4 awards, each at a minimum level of $10
million. The "deliverable" is 80 vehicles over three years, to be
tested and demonstrated at three US DOE sites and three sites the
applicant can propose. V2G capability is encouraged, and while the
focus is on light-duty vehicles (cars, SUVs, small trucks) powering
at least 10 miles electrically (all-electric or within a larger
blended range), larger vehicles are eligible as well.

Any type of entity can apply by April 30. Before those involved in
many small PHEV efforts currently in development get too excited, a
50% cost share and at least a partnership with a large auto company
are necessary. (The language is sufficiently fuzzy that what the
industry calls a "First Tier Supplier" or niche manufacturer might
be eligible -- especially if none of the large carmakers apply.) The
funds involved by themselves may not be sufficient to motivate
multi-billion-dollar companies -- but we hope carmakers will consider
them in light of the prospect of other federal, state and private
incentives. Here's the key limiting paragraph:

It is highly encouraged that the proposing applicant be a high volume
(greater than 10,000 vehicles produced annually) vehicle manufacturer
currently producing vehicles in the United States with other team
members being subcontractors to the applicant. Applications from
other entities will only be considered if a high volume (greater than
10,000 vehicles produced annually) vehicle manufacturer is a team
member. In addition, a novel application will be considered if the
applicant demonstrates the capability for high volume production and
the requisite technical expertise. Teaming with suppliers, national
laboratories, utilities, state and municipal governments, small
businesses, universities, fleet operators, etc. is highly encouraged
if it enables the applicant to achieve the goals and objectives of
this announcement, which in turn will produce a quality production
ready vehicle.


Below are the URLs for the solicitation and the full program
description, followed by excerpts from the latter document
http://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/1be0f2271893ba198525644b006bc0be/f9efcdd01959c4d0852573b6006c1375?OpenDocument.

http://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/F9EFCDD01959C4D0852573B6006C1375/$file/Funding_Opportunity_Announcement02.doc

Solicitation Description:

The Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy's (EERE) Office of Vehicle Technologies (OVT) Program, is
seeking applications for cost-shared development and demonstration of
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The vehicle shall be
capable of charging by using the standard 110 volt outlet found in
every home and building across the United States.

U. S. Department of Energy
National Energy Technology Laboratory

Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (Phev) Technology Acceleration And
Deployment Activity
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS26-08NT00360-02

Issue Date: 12/19/07
Application Due Date: 4/30/2008 at 8:00:00 PM Eastern Time


PART I - FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. OBJECTIVES
The Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory
(NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy's (EERE) Office of Vehicle Technologies (OVT) Program, is
seeking applications for cost-shared development and demonstration of
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The vehicle shall be
capable of charging by using the standard 110 volt outlet found in
every home and building across the United States. The intent of this
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to further research,
develop and demonstrate light duty vehicles such as automobiles,
light duty trucks, SUV's, light trucks and vans, light heavy duty
trucks, passenger vans, or any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lbs or less, that can achieve a cumulative
electric range (before transitioning to charge sustaining mode) of at
least 10 miles on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule
(UDDS). However, if a medium or heavy-duty vehicle ( i.e buses,
trucks, tractors or other commercial vehicles with a GVWR greater
than 10,000 lbs ) is proposed that can meet or exceed the cumulative
electric range of at least 10 miles on the UDDS, it will be evaluated
using the same criteria and against the same regulations, standards
and evaluation criteria as outlined in this announcement, which are
developed around performance expectations for light duty
vehicles. The OVT program seeks to accelerate the development of
PHEVs that (1) substantially reduce petroleum consumption, (2) are
fully compliant with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS), (3) meet all relevant emission regulations, and (4) can be
economically mass produced. OVT proposes to demonstrate the
operational and economic viability of the PHEVs developed through
this FOA by placing them in small geographically diverse fleets in
order to collect operational data. The information will be used to:
inform and prioritize DOE PHEV R&D activities, educate consumers on
the benefits of PHEVs, assess the electric utility impacts and
national benefits of substantially shifting the fuel source for
transportation to electricity. The ultimate goal is
production-intent vehicles that can be produced in volume and
meaningfully contribute to the nation's petroleum displacement
objectives outlined in the Administration's '20 in 10' initiative.

B. PROGRAM HISTORY/BACKGROUND
PHEVs are not currently mass-produced by original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs). However, hybrid electric vehicles converted
into PHEVs by non-OEM companies have demonstrated well over 100 MPG
on gasoline in both laboratory and on-road testing
environments. PHEVs rely on additional on-board energy storage such
as advanced technology batteries, which are recharged from an
off-board electric utility infrastructure rather than from the
vehicle engine resulting in the high fuel economy.
Since much of the daily travel in the United States is urban, the
Administration has challenged DOE to develop PHEV technology capable
of a 40 mile electric range, (i.e., satisfying 70 percent of the
average daily travel in the United States), with the ultimate
objective of substantial petroleum displacement as well as improved
air quality. Therefore, it is believed that fully integrated (OEM
level) vehicle control is required to realize the potential of PHEVs.

The OVT Program's approach to implementing R&D/Demonstration
activities emphasizes jointly funded partnerships with industry to
develop and validate technologies. This approach ensures that
government resources will be leveraged by industry and will
accelerate the transition of successful technologies to high volume
production vehicles.


C. PROGRAM AREA OF INTEREST
The OVT Program supports the development of PHEVs that can be
economically mass-produced, compete effectively in the marketplace
with conventional/current production hybrid vehicles and dramatically
reduce petroleum consumption.

It is highly encouraged that the proposing applicant be a high volume
(greater than 10,000 vehicles produced annually) vehicle manufacturer
currently producing vehicles in the United States with other team
members being subcontractors to the applicant. Applications from
other entities will only be considered if a high volume (greater than
10,000 vehicles produced annually) vehicle manufacturer is a team
member. In addition, a novel application will be considered if the
applicant demonstrates the capability for high volume production and
the requisite technical expertise. Teaming with suppliers, national
laboratories, utilities, state and municipal governments, small
businesses, universities, fleet operators, etc. is highly encouraged
if it enables the applicant to achieve the goals and objectives of
this announcement, which in turn will produce a quality production
ready vehicle.

The effort shall include the analysis, design, fabrication, and
integration of plug-in hybrid electric propulsion systems (including
battery, battery charger, power electronics, and electric drive) in
vehicle platforms using standard practice for production-intent vehicles.

Realizing the immediate challenge of the Administration's 40-mile
electric range target, the OVT Program is seeking PHEVs with a
cumulative electric range (before transitioning to charge sustaining
mode) of at least 10 miles on the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule
(UDDS); power sharing/blending is allowed. Electric range greater
than 10 miles is strongly encouraged.

The vehicles shall be comparable to current production vehicles
(e.g., safety, performance, comfort, cost) to compete in the
marketplace as well as compliant with all applicable FMVSS and
emissions requirements.

The vehicles shall be developed using the latest state of the art
technology with the goal of achieving a 40-mile electric range in a
production-ready vehicle.
The deployment of PHEVs in geographically diverse locations
throughout the US will allow DOE and Industry partners to
realistically and clearly identify PHEV performance, operation, and
fuel economy in a real time user environment. Operation and testing
of PHEV data shall include but is not limited to, actual time and
distance achieved driving in the all-electric range, actual fuel
economy, overall powertrain durability and other data generated as a
result of real-world operation. Data collected shall be used to
provide feedback to the manufacturer and DOE with the goal of
improving vehicle powertrain design, energy management control
strategy, and any other vehicle design considerations that would
enable a production ready vehicle with a 40 mile electric range.

Each successful applicant should develop and demonstrate a minimum of
80 or more PHEVs over a 3-year period; the minimum commitment is 10
vehicles within the first 12 months, 20 additional vehicles within
the second 12 months and 50 additional vehicles within the third 12
months (referenced to the date of award initiation). Failure to meet
the minimum commitment of vehicles may result in a lower rating of
the application. Successful applicant(s) shall provide vehicles with
successive technological improvements, such as increased range,
advanced batteries, control strategies, or other improvements to
overall vehicle efficiency etc. (coordinated with DOE) for each
annual vehicle delivery. Each vehicle shall have appropriate:

" Documentation describing maintenance, service or operating
instructions/limitations
" In addition, the vehicles shall require no extraordinary
technical support from the manufacturer or operator and special
training is not encouraged.

Each successful awardee shall develop and demonstrate a minimum of 80
or more PHEVs over a 3-year period; the minimum commitment is 10
vehicles within the first 12 months, 20 additional vehicles within
the second 12 months and 50 additional vehicles within the third 12
months (referenced to the date of award initiation).
The applicant shall be responsible for vehicle support, which
includes but is not limited to vehicle maintenance, vehicle repair,
and vehicle component replacement including the battery pack or any
other vehicle support activities for a period of three (3) years from
the time of delivery of the vehicles for testing.

The vehicles will undergo a variety of testing over a three (3) year
period following their delivery, including baseline performance,
laboratory dynamometer, accelerated reliability, and fleet testing at
DOE facilities or Non-Federal facilities approved by DOE.

" At a minimum, the recommended locations will be DOE HQ
(Washington, DC), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
(Morgantown,WV and Pittsburgh, PA) and other Federal or Non-Federal
facilities approved by DOE.
" In addition to the specified locations above, applicants
should propose up to three (3) additional locations for fleet/vehicle
testing that are geographically diverse. Prospective applicants may
want to consider state and local government agencies, organizations,
or coalitions such as designated Clean Cities Coalition(s) as one of
the three locations. Please refer to
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/progs/coalition_locations.php)
for an active listing of coalitions by State. It is at the
discretion of the DOE to approve the proposed locations. Each
applicant should consider geographical diversity to provide
differences in driving terrain, route (city/highway) and climatic
operating conditions that are considered by the applicant to be
important in defining the vehicle design parameters (i.e. efficiency,
performance, and durability of the vehicle).

" A subset of the vehicles may be tested in vehicle-to-home
(V2H) or vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications if the manufacturer has
made provisions for that use in the design.
" In addition, successful applicants shall anticipate the
possibility of vehicle operation by the general public, i.e., drivers
with no specific training in PHEV operation.
" Access shall be provided to pertinent vehicle propulsion
system data if not readily available through the vehicles' OBD II
connection for the purpose of data logging during testing and evaluation.
" Traction batteries used in these vehicles should be capable
of completing the full 3-year test and evaluation period following
their delivery.

In addition to the vehicle requirements, other factors will be considered:
" Use of advanced batteries (i.e. lithium ion etc..) and/or
alternative fuels or advanced technology diesels.
" Comparative cost analysis (assuming annual production volume
of 100,000 or more).
" Cost share greater than the required minimum of 50%.
The successful applicant shall prepare annual reports covering
vehicle analysis and planning, status of the propulsion technology
and vehicles, proposed technological improvements for the next year
and projections of cost competitiveness in volume production.


PART II - AWARD INFORMATION

B. ESTIMATED FUNDING
" Approximately $10,000,000 is expected to be available for new
awards in FY 2008 and an additional $20,000,000 is anticipated to be
available for the existing awards under this announcement in the out
years, subject to the availability of funds.

D. EXPECTED NUMBER OF AWARDS
" DOE anticipates making 1-4 awards under this announcement
depending on the size of the awards.

E. ANTICIPATED AWARD SIZE
" DOE anticipates that awards will be in the $10,000,000 to
$30,000,000 range for the total project period, depending on the
number of awards.

F. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
" DOE anticipates making awards that will run for up to six (6) years.

PART III - ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS All types of entities are eligible to
apply, except other Federal agencies, Federally Funded Research and
Development Center (FFRDC) Contractors, and nonprofit organizations
described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995.

B. COST SHARING
" The cost share must be at least 50% of the total allowable
costs for demonstration and commercial application projects (i.e.,
the sum of the Government share, including FFRDC contractor costs if
applicable, and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the
total allowable cost of the project) and must come from non-Federal
sources unless otherwise allowed by law.


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Felix Kramer fkramer@...
Founder California Cars Initiative
http://www.calcars.org
http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html
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