Nine vehicle efficiency projects will receive more than $187 million from the Department of Energy as the federal government continues to encourage the transportation industry to develop cleaner technologies. According to the D.O.E., the transportation sector accounts for 28% of total U.S. energy use and, by pushing for greener technology, millions of gallons of fuel could be saved every day. The D.O.E.’s current carbon target is to reduce on-road emissions 20% by 2030.
All nine projects are dedicated to improving fuel efficiency, reducing waste energy, and cutting emissions without sacrificing drivability or performance. Three projects are committed to Class 8 long-haul trucks, while the remaining six address light-duty vehicles. The projects and their funding amounts are below; however, the final details of each contract will be settled in negotiations between the D.O.E. and the grantee.
Systems Level Technology Development, Integration, and Demonstration for Efficient Class 8 Trucks (SuperTrucks)
• Cummins Inc. -- $38,831,115 -- Columbus, Indiana
Funding will be used to develop and demonstrate a more efficient diesel powertrain, an advanced waste heat recovery system, an aerodynamic Peterbilt tractor/trailer combination, and a fuel cell auxiliary power unit to reduce engine idling.
• Daimler Trucks North America, LLC -- $39,559,868 -- Portland, Oregon
Funding will be used to develop and demonstrate more efficient technologies including engine downsizing, electrification of auxiliary systems such as oil and water pumps, waste heat recovery, improved aerodynamics, and hybridization.
• Navistar, Inc. -- $37,328,933 -- Fort Wayne, Indiana
Funding will be used to develop and demonstrate technologies to improve truck and trailer aerodynamics, combustion efficiency, waste heat recovery, hybridization, idle reduction, and reduced rolling resistance tires.
Advanced Technology Powertrains for Light-Duty Vehicles (ATP-LD)
• Chrysler Group LLC -- $14,458,572 -- Auburn Hills, Michigan
Funding will be used to develop a flexible combustion system for their minivan platform based on a downsized, turbocharged engine that uses direct gasoline injection, recirculation of exhaust gases, and flexible intake air control to reduce emissions.
Cummins ISB 6.7-liter Six...
Cummins ISB 6.7-liter Six-Cylinder •
Cummins Inc. -- $15,000,000 -- Columbus, Indiana
Funding will be used to develop a fuel-efficient, low-emissions diesel engine that achieves a 40% fuel economy improvement over conventional gasoline technology and significantly exceeds 2010 EPA emissions requirements.
• Delphi Automotive Systems LLC -- $7,480,572 -– Troy, Michigan
Funding will be used to develop a novel low-temperature combustion system, coupled with technologies such as continuously variable valve control and engine downspeeding, to improve fuel economy by at least 25%.
• Ford Motor Company -- $15,000,000 -- Dearborn, Michigan
Funding will be used to help achieve a 25% fuel economy improvement with a gasoline engine in a 2010 mid- to large-size sedan by using technologies including engine downsizing, turbo-charging, direct injection, and a novel exhaust aftertreatment system.
• General Motors Co. -- $7,705,862 -- Pontiac, Michigan
Funding will be used to develop an engine that combines lean combustion and active heat management, as well as a novel emissions control system, to improve the fuel economy of a 2010 Malibu demonstration vehicle by 25%.
• Robert Bosch -- $11,953,786 -- Farmington Hills, Michigan
Funding will be used to demonstrate a high compression, turbocharged engine based on homogenous charge compression ignition technology (a combustion technology that allows for lower emissions and higher efficiency) to achieve up to a 30% fuel economy improvement in a gasoline-fueled light-duty vehicle.
The light-duty Cummins diesel project is likely based on the remnants of the oft-mentioned 5.0-liter V-8 that has stayed well hidden. The diesel V-8 was originally slated for the Ram 1500, before the partnership was nixed because of Chrysler’s bankruptcy. Even if the Pentastar chooses not to pick up the completed diesel, another manufacturer could still possibly ink a deal. Here is what Cummins had to say about the project:
The ATP-LD program will develop a fuel-efficient, low emissions diesel engine that achieves a 40% fuel economy improvement over conventional gasoline technology and significantly exceeds 2010 EPA emissions requirements. The project will develop and demonstrate an advanced, highly integrated combustion engine and aftertreatment system to achieve Tier2 Bin2 emission compliance while maintaining vehicle performance and drivability. The project will also develop the system architecture to accommodate on-board diagnostic regulations from the design stage to better enable product commercialization.
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy, Cummins