Battery500 Seedling Projects. This topic seeks proof-of-concept, or seedling projects that complement the VTO Battery500 Consortium’s research to more than double the specific energy (to 500 watt-hours per kilogram) of lithium battery technologies which will result in smaller, lighter weight, less expensive battery packs, and more affordable electric vehicles.

The two technologies being developed in the program are Lithium metal/Sulfur and Lithium metal/high Nickel Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) cells, using solid or concentrated liquid electrolytes. The work is organized into three thrusts:

1. Materials/Interfaces including mixed conductive coatings and controlled surface reactions

2. Electrode Architectures including thick, conductive cathode and 3- Dimensional (3D) Li composite structure

3. Cell Design/Integration including cell modeling, 1-Dimensional (1D) or 2- Dimensional (2D) Li ion conductor, and de-coupled the solid electrolyte interphase reactions

DOE envisions two project phases. Applications must organize tasks and schedule into two Phases. Phase 1 (18 months) should include exploration and selection of materials concepts and characterization of the technology approach with bench testing of a cell to demonstrate Battery500 specific energy technology targets. A competitive down-select process will take place at the end of Phase 1.

Phase 2 (18-30 months) should include design and development of the selected technology concept and improvement of cell performance required to achieve or exceed Battery500 specific energy technology targets. DOE expects 12 test cells will be delivered annually to DOE for testing in phase 2.

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) Development of Low Cost Carbon Fiber for Lightweight Materials. This topic seeks simultaneously to develop low-cost carbon-fiber (CF) precursor technology to support immediate weight reduction in light-duty vehicles while also advancing Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) techniques to support a reduced development‐to-deployment lead-time in all lightweight materials systems.

For these projects, DOE is defining CF as a material consisting of thin, strong multi-crystalline filaments of carbon used as a reinforcement material, especially in resins also having the following mechanical and cost requirements:

• Cost at less than or equal to $5/lb (2010 dollars);
• Strength of greater than or equal to 250Ksi;
• Modulus of greater than or equal to 25Msi; and
• Strain of greater than or equal to 1%.

Projects will use an ICME approach to predict, design, develop, and optimize precursor chemistry (petroleum and non-petroleum derived). The ICME approach should employ tools linking micro- to macro-scale models to optimize structure/property and process/property relationships while taking into account uncertainty to predict accurately how a low cost precursor fiber transforms to low cost CF and its properties.

Projects will develop and integrate a suite of computational tools that can accurately predict precursors for low cost carbon fiber. Validation of these tools will yield predictions of the chemical and physical structure of a family of optimized precursors. Models will be validated using actual performance data.

To support this effort and leverage carbon fiber characterization and scale-up resources within the DOE National Laboratory system, DOE is encouraging project teams to interface with the LightMat Consortium.

Emission Control Strategies for Advanced Combustion Engines: This topic aims to develop and demonstrate catalyst materials and after-treatment strategies that enable vehicles with advanced combustion engines to meet Tier 3 emissions standards while achieving breakthrough thermal efficiencies.

This effort is focused on advancing the state-of-the-art catalysis and after-treatment strategies for advanced combustion regimes including, but not limited to, Homogeneous- Charge Compression-Ignition, Lean Stratified Combustion, and Compression-Ignition Gasoline applications for passenger and commercial vehicle applications.

Energy Efficient Mobility Systems Research and Development. This topic seeks to support novel research to develop unique technology solutions that enable energy efficient “smart” mobility systems. Specific emphasis will be given to concepts that support future transportation scenarios allowing for the efficient movement of people and/or goods in a way that maximizes energy efficiency and emissions reduction. Consideration will be given to connected and automated vehicle technologies, solutions applicable to multiple modes of transport suitable for the urban environment, and the fueling/charging infrastructure required to support consumer adoption of efficient mobility systems.