DETROIT — U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette recently announced $139 million in federal funding by the Department of Energy (DOE) for 55 projects across the country that will support new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies. Six projects will be led by teams in Michigan.

Funded through the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the projects will conduct research in advanced batteries, electrification, and manufacturing in support of DOE’s Energy Storage Grand Challenge.

Among the projects announced, EERE’s Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) and EERE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office are collaborating on two projects totaling $15 million aimed at lightweight and high-performance fiber-reinforced polymer composites for vehicle applications. First, a Ford-led team, in collaboration with DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other partners, will develop multi-functional composite structures with electronics integration for cross car beam applications. Second, a General Motors-led team is developing fiber-reinforced composites for high volume manufacturing of structural battery enclosures. Michigan State University’s Scale Up Research Facility is partnering with both teams. The facility was established with DOE funding under the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation.

Selected projects under this funding opportunity will be managed by VTO. VTO research pathways focus on fuel diversification, vehicle efficiency, energy storage, lightweight materials, and new mobility technologies to improve the overall energy efficiency and affordability of the transportation system.