Sens. Stabenow, Levin Announce More Than $5.1 Million in Vehicle Technology Grants

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, both D-Mich., announced today that Michigan researchers will receive more than $5 million for work on clean energy technologies for motor vehicles. The funding comes from the Department of Energy’s recently-formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). General Motors will receive $2,655,174 and Michigan State University will receive $2,540,631.

“Michigan has always been a leader in manufacturing and the auto industry, and these grants will keep this cutting-edge work happening in our state,” Levin said. “Achieving energy independence is critical to our economic and environmental interests.”

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“Investing in clean energy technology is vital to our state’s continued leadership in the auto industry,” said Stabenow. “I am pleased that this funding will help provide both General Motors and Michigan State University with the resources necessary to build advanced technology vehicles here at home in order to create good-paying jobs.”

General Motors will collaborate with the University of Michigan, HRL Laboratories and Dynalloy, Inc. on research on a shape memory alloy (SMA), an energy recovery device that converts waste heat from car engines into electricity. The SMA could be used to increase fuel efficiencies in vehicles.

Michigan State University will use its funds for research into wave disc engine technology. This gas-fueled engine is five times more efficient than traditional engines for electricity production, and could be used to replace current generators for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

The Department of Energy’s ARPA-E was originally established under the America Competes Act of 2007. These grants represent the first round of funding from the ARPA-E for research into clean energy technologies. For more information, visit www.arpa-e.energy.gov .

Source: Senator Debbie Stabenow