NREL Seeks design tools for better electric car batteries

The goals for the design tools are:

* Shorten the prototyping and manufacturing process
* Improve overall performance, safety, and battery life
* Lower costs.

The request for proposals for “Development of Computer Aided Design Tools for Automotive Batteries” and related documents are available online. Proposals are due September 14, 2010. The award amount that companies can apply for is up to US$7.5 million with a 50 percent cost share required bringing the total possible project amount up to US$15 million over three years.

EDVs — commonly known as hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and electric vehicles — have the potential to significantly reduce petroleum consumption and dependence on imported oil while improving emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants.

NREL is DOE’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is managed and operated for DOE by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/solicitations_rfps.html