Energy Department announces $19 million for research to advance fast electric vehicle charging

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Monday $19 million in funding for twelve new cost-shared research projects involving batteries and vehicle electrification technologies to enable extreme fast charging for electric vehicles (EVs).

The research projects are focused on systems that can decrease typical charge times to 15 minutes or less using a connector or wireless fast charging system.

The selections include nine battery projects that focus on advanced anodes, electrolytes, and battery cell designs that can charge in less than 10 minutes, while still maintaining performance over the 10-year life goal.

DOE will also provide funding to three electrification projects to develop and verify electric drive systems and infrastructure for electric vehicle extreme fast charging. The projects aim to increase home charging power levels from the current seven kilowatts (kW) to up to 400 kW as well as reduce typical charging times from 8 hours to 15 minutes or less.

Funding comes from DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The projects will help DOE reach the goal of reducing battery pack cost to under $100 per kilowatt-hour, increasing the range to over 300 miles and achieving charging in 15 minutes or less by 2028.