Department of Energy to divide $50M between trucks, off-road vehicles and gaseous fuels research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) intends to spend $50 million on new research into truck, off-road vehicle, and gaseous fuels research to help innovate the transportation sector.

Funding will come from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), and the DOE already has several ideas in mind for research. Natural gas, biopower, and hydrogen will all be focuses for fuel research, while the vehicular efforts will include efficiency modifications, heavy-duty freight electrification, hydrogen infrastructure and the heavy-duty use of fuel cell technologies. Especially where trucking is concerned, the DOE sees such updates as a potentially massive turning point, given that medium and heavy duty trucks consume about 25 percent of annual vehicle fuel use.

“As the fastest growing fuel users in the United States, it is important our trucking industry has access to advanced technologies, such as electrification and fuel cells, as a way to move goods efficiently and economically,” Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes said. “EERE has a strong track record of successful investment in the research and development of a broad portfolio of technologies, including electrification, advanced combustion engines, and fuels such as natural gas, hydrogen, and biofuels, that can significantly improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of transportation energy.”

Such options could be more sustainable, according to Menezes, which is especially important since the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the energy use by trucks is increasing. Annual miles for freight trucks will likely increase by more than 50 percent by 2050, and trucks are already responsible for carrying more than 70 percent of U.S. freight in terms of tonnage and value. Meanwhile, off-road vehicles account for 8 percent of the total energy consumed in the U.S. transportation sector.