A new “plug-in electric drive vehicle program” focuses on research, development, and demonstration of medium- and heavy-duty PEVs, from class 3 to 7, including vehicles that can use their onboard energy storage to provide power to electrical loads external to the vehicle.

The PEV projects must include three phases (Phase 1 and Phase 2 combined must not exceed two years):

• Phase 1: Component development (batteries and/or electric drive system)
• Phase 2: Powertrain integration into vehicle(s)
• Phase 3: Vehicle demonstration for at least one year in length but must not exceed two years.

The plug-in vehicle area of interest will receive approximately $7.8 million of the $22.3 million.

DOE is also seeking cost-shared projects for the research, development, and demonstration of direct injection propane engines for on-highway vehicles that could result in substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. This includes light, medium, and heavy‐duty applications.

The engine must be based on a currently‐available commercial engine; the proposed project must include demonstration of the engine in a vehicle or on a test stand.

The DI propane engine area of interest will receive approximately $4.5 million in federal funding.

Lastly, DOE is seeking highly leveraged Alternative Fuel Vehicle Community Partner Projects that will significantly accelerate the use of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles that operate on fuels such as biodiesel, electricity, E85, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane as well as the fueling infrastructure needed to support them.

Led by community-based partnerships between state and local governments and key private sector stakeholders, these projects are intended to help catalyze alternative fuel use nationwide through the collection and sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

This last area of interest will receive approximately $10 million in funding from the $22.3 million.