DOE funds 6 projects for co-optimization of engines and fuels

September 13, 2018

BY Erin Krueger

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced it will award 42 projects a total of $80 million to support advanced vehicles technologies research. Approximately $10.1 million of that funding will support six projects focused on the co-optimization of engines and fuels.

“Improving the affordability of transportation for American consumers and businesses keeps our economy moving,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. “By investing in a broad range of technologies, DOE is ensuring America remains at the forefront of innovation.”

Selected projects were awarded funding under five main project areas. Approximately $31.9 million is going to 13 projects focused on batteries and electrification, with $8.4 million awarded to six projects focused on materials, $26.8 million awarded to 16 projects focused on technology integration, $10.1 million awarded to six projects focused on the co-optimization of engines and fuels, and $3.4 million awarded one project focused on off-road and fluid power systems.

The $10.1 million awarded to engines and fuels projects will support research on advanced multi-mode engines with co-optimized fuels for light-duty vehicles and bio-derived blendstocks for diesel engines for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. The DOE said these six projects support DOE’s Co-Optima initiative, a joint effort between the Vehicle Technologies and Bioenergy Technologies Offices to develop fuel and engine innovations that work together to maximize vehicle performance and fuel economy.

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The six engines and fuel projects include:

Auburn University: $2 million for bio-production and evaluation of renewable butyl acetate as a desirable bio-blendstock for diesel fuel.

Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center Inc.: $2.17 million for co-optimized, mixed-mode gasoline compression ignition/spark-ignition engine system to improve fuel economy.

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SUNY University of Stony Brook: $1.49 million for naphthenic biofuel-diesel blend for optimizing mixing controlled compression ignition combustion.

University of Massachusetts Lowell: $1 million for renewable fuel additives from woody biomass.

University of Michigan: $2 million for tailored bio-blendstocks with low environmental impact to optimize MCCI engines.

University of Wisconsin – Madison: $3.44 million for ultra-efficient diesel engine for off-road vehicles, with integrated mechanical energy storage.

A full list of the 42 funded projects can be downloaded from the DOE website.

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