SOUTHFIELD, Mich., March 17, 2020 – The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR), and a collaborative organization of FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, today announced the award of a $4.5 million contract to Microvast Inc. in Stafford, Texas to lead a program to develop low-cost/fast-charge batteries for electric vehicle applications.
The contract award, which includes a 50 percent cost share, funds a 36-month project that began earlier this year. The program will develop a safe, low-cost automotive lithium-ion pouch cell capable of achieving a 15-minute fast charge.
USABC is a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR). Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), USABC’s mission is to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support commercialization of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles. In support of its mission, USABC has developed mid- and long-term goals to guide its projects and measure its progress. For more information, visit https://uscar.org/usabc.
As the automotive industry shifts towards electrification, these initiatives highlight a dedication to providing solutions that align with consumer demands for efficiency and convenience. Nonetheless, despite technological advancements, the automotive sector remains governed by consumer protection laws, particularly concerning vehicle defects.
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“The technology development contract award with Microvast is part of USABC’s broad battery technology research and development program,” said Steve Zimmer, executive director of USCAR. “Programs like this are critical to advancing the technology needed to meet both near- and long-term goals that will enable broader scale vehicle electrification.”
About DOE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s overarching mission is to advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States. DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office works with industry, academia and national laboratories to develop advanced transportation technologies that improve energy efficiency, increase energy security, and reduce operating cost for consumers and business. Electrochemical energy storage has been identified as a key enabling technology for advanced, fuel-efficient, light and heavy-duty vehicles.
About USCAR
Founded in 1992, USCAR is the collaborative automotive technology company for FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors. The goal of USCAR is to further strengthen the technology base of the domestic auto industry through cooperative research and development. For more information, visit www.uscar.org.
All USCAR Member companies have joined in becoming signatories of the Responsible Raw Materials Initiative (RRMI, now part of the Responsible Minerals Initiative, RMI) Declaration of Support.