Current Fiscal Year (2012 – 2013) Status of the Hybrid and Electric Systems R&D at the U.S. – DOE

This paper provides the latest information and progress overview (for the Fiscal Years 2012–2013) of the hybrid and electric systems (HES) R&D projects funded by the Vehicles Technologies Office (VTO) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). HES include battery R&D, electric drive components, and vehicle & systems simulation & testing. Currently there is significant U.S. commitment to HES R&D ($156M in Fiscal Year 2013). Several technologies developed partially under VTO-sponsored projects have moved into commercial applications. DOE has supported the development of advanced HES technologies over the long term, leveraging resources and expertise from automobile manufacturers, battery, motor, and electronics developers, small businesses, national laboratories, and universities to address the market technical barriers for those technologies. The HES R&D Team has had many significant accomplishments and continues to advance the state of the art for many technologies. The paper summarizes the most recent highlights for the three HES R&D areas and U.S. industry highlights for the battery industry, in particular.