Clean Fuel News

Notice of Intent to issue several Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs)

The US Department of Energy and Joint Office of Energy and Transportation has released the Notice of Intent to issue several Funding Opportunities Announcements (FOAs). 

The following FOAs are within Louisiana Clean Fuels field of interest and can be accessed here.

Louisiana Clean Fuels is interested in partnering with or participating in grant applications, particularly the areas of interest bolded on this list. Please reach out to us at [email protected]. 

US DOE, EERE: Notice of Intent to Issue

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002893 

• Area of Interest 1: High-Capacity, Long Cycle Life Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) Batteries 
• Area of Interest 2: Advanced Integrated Charging System 
• Area of Interest 3: Charging Concepts for Off-Road 
• Area of Interest 4: Circularity and Sustainability of Polymer Composites for Vehicle Lightweighting and Decarbonization
• Area of Interest 5: Low Cost, Low Carbon Magnesium Production 
• Area of Interest 6: Novel Lightweight Materials 

• Area of Interest 7: Modeling, Analyzing, and Addressing Knowledge Gaps in the Workforce Supporting Electric Vehicles and the Related Supply Chain

• The objective of this area of interest is to model, analyze, and address knowledge gaps in the workforce supporting EVs and the related supply chain. VTO is not currently aware of any existing, comprehensive analysis of the workforce changes, both primary and potentially also secondary, that are likely to accompany this growth. Proposals submitted to this FOA topic should indicate an ability to map out plausible differing supply chain paths characteristic of the EV manufacturing and supply chain, including characterizing workforce impacts related to EVSE and EV charging.
• Area of Interest 8: Mobility System Approaches Supporting Public Transportation 

• Area of Interest 9: Reducing Soft Costs of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure to Enable Widespread Deployment

• Soft costs refer to administrative and planning costs, as opposed to the hard costs of manufactured components, construction, and labor. Soft costs for EVSE installations include costs related to codes and permitting, siting/drawing, financing, future-proofing, the utility interconnection process, and numerous other costs that vary and are poorly understood.  Approaches that target both residential and non-residential EVSE installations are of interest. Teams are encouraged to include state and/or local governments, codes and standards organizations, utilities, and/or EVSE operators. 

• Area of Interest 10: Addressing Critical Workforce Training Needs for Transportation Electrification 

• The objective of this area of interest is to collaborate with communities across the United States who are transitioning from an automotive/powertrain or energy jobs local economy to equip this local workforce with skills necessary for participating in the transportation electrification workforce. 

• Area of Interest 11: Consumer Education for Electric Vehicle Charging 

• EV charging can be a confusing topic for the general public since there are various electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) standards, charging levels, charging networks, payment interfaces, pricing structures, etc. Projects will use innovative approaches to reach targeted audiences with brand-neutral educational campaigns, dispel EV charger myths, and increase consumer comfort level with EV charging technology and availability 

• Area of Interest 12: Demonstration and Deployment – Open Topic 

• The objective of this area of interest is to explore novel solutions to transportation and energy challenges through demonstration and deployment projects not otherwise addressed in the planned FOA. This would include projects to address challenges unique to their geographic areas and solutions with potential for replication in other areas across the country. 

Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Notice of Intent to Issue

Funding Opportunity Announcement No. DE-FOA-0002881 

• Area of Interest 1: Enhancing EV Charging Resiliency 

• There is an increasing need to ensure that communities and energy systems are appropriately prepared for disruptive events. Specifically, there is a need for state and local entities, as well as electric utilities, to develop resilience strategies and plans for EV charging networks to ensure reliable, equitable access as well as continuity of EV charging services. This area of interest will establish and fund a cohort of teams from across the country to develop and share resilience plans for EV charging and to identify and potentially implement key technology pilots and demonstrations that have broad benefits and applicability. Specifically, state and local stakeholders, electric utilities, and Clean Cities Coalitions, will have the chance to develop EV charging resiliency strategies and operational plans. 

• Area of Interest 2: Equitable Access and Opportunity in Electrification

• • Area of Interest 2a – Community-Driven Models for Electric Vehicle Charging Deployment

• Projects should focus on determining how investments in EV supply equipment (EVSE) can benefit the community, including business models for creating community benefits that may incorporate novel financing and funding mechanisms, and/or also (1) explore methods for siting potential EV supply equipment that benefit the community, (2) demonstrate community-driven approaches to planning for EV charging deployment, (3) determine how to measure, track, and validate benefits with the community to exceed Justice40 goals, (4) identify what transportation and/or mobility services need to be made available or improved for the best overall experience with, and access to electrified transportation (5) identify and address accessibility barriers to charging stations through innovative design, technology implementation, alternative payment options, or other novel solutions. 

• • Area of Interest 2b – Workforce Development 

• The objective of this area of interest is to develop and implement strategies that will develop and diversify a high-quality workforce within the electrified transportation industry to support producing, installing, operating, and maintaining EV charging infrastructure, including infrastructure supported by the Federal Highway Administration’s NEVI and CFI programs. Transportation electrification presents significant potential for economic growth that can also create ladders of opportunity for all Americans by providing both opportunities for new jobs as well as upskilling opportunities for the incumbent workforce. 
• Area of Interest 3: Improving EV Charging Performance and Reliability 
• Area of Interest 3a – Increasing Commercial Capacity for Testing and Certification of High-Power Electric Vehicle Chargers 
• Area of Interest 3b – Validating High-Power EV Charger Real-World Performance and Reliability