The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a collaborative organization of FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, has issued a request for proposal information (RFPI) for the development of low-cost, fast-charge (LC/FC) batteries for electric vehicle (EV) applications.
The RFPI is aimed at single developers or collaborative supplier-team developers having electrochemical energy storage technologies that have the capability of meeting or approaching USABC commercialization criteria, as listed in the full RFPI document https://uscar.org/commands/files_download.php?files_id=477.
Although project goals can be set that approach but not meet all of the USABC goals, a credible plan toward achieving all the USABC goals must be provided. The two most important goals for projects selected under this solicitation are low-cost and fast-charge capability, both of which will be weighted more heavily than other performance measures in the selection process. The goals are for development that will result in commercialization of LC/FC cells by 2023.
All developers submitting proposals will be required to demonstrate that they have the potential to develop a commercially viable business, which can produce sufficient volumes to meet automotive requirements, and provide engineering and testing support to meet automotive implementation requirements. Research organizations with current, direct affiliations with businesses that derive a majority of their income from related product sales, will also be considered.
At the time of submittal, all developers will be required to have demonstration hardware and test results available for USABC inspection. Resulting contracts will include a 50 percent minimum cost share.
The deadline for submission is July 31, 2018.
For complete and detailed information on the RFPI for the “Development of Advanced LC/FC Batteries for EV Applications,” visit the USABC pages of the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR) website at www.uscar.org/usabc. In addition, service providers may contact Maureen LaHote, USABC business manager at mlahote@uscar.org.
USABC is a subsidiary of USCAR. Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy, 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.
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.