FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program

The FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies (FCVT) Program is a research initiative between the U.S. government and the nation's automotive and energy industries. It was initiated in 2002 as a successor to the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV) program, which was a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), made up of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. The same players formed FreedomCAR—with CAR standing for Cooperative Automotive Research—to further develop technologies that would reduce fuel dependence and engine emissions in U.S. passenger vehicles and light trucks.

In September 2003, the program expanded to address issues related to fuel infrastructure by adding five new members representing key participants in the U.S. energy industry: BP America, Chevron Corporation, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil Corporation, and Shell Hydrogen (U.S.). The expanded initiative was renamed the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. Two electric utility companies, DTE Energy in Detroit and Southern California [Page 585]Edison, joined the partnership in 2008 to help with FreedomCAR's work related to interface and infrastructure issues involving electric vehicle technologies. All the members work together to share resources and devise options for underlying technologies and processes designed to support the initiative's target goals.

The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership is focused in the short term on supporting technological research and development of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Its longer term strategic goal is the development of technologies for hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles that are not dependent on petroleum and do not generate harmful emissions or greenhouse gases. Like its predecessor, the new partnership seeks to achieve its technology goals while maintaining desired automotive attributes for consumer comfort and mobility.

The partnership's approach involves early focus on more fuel-efficient internal combustion engines and hybrid electric vehicles, as well as the potential use of all-electric vehicles and biofueled internal combustion engines. The group aims ultimately to develop an infrastructure for supplying hydrogen fuel for fuel cell powered vehicles. To address the technical challenges associated with the planned research and development pathway, the initiative has established quantitative technology and cost targets through 2015 in eight areas. The technology targets hone in on these areas: basic combustion and emission control for internal combustion engines, fuel cell power systems, fuel cells, hydrogen storage systems, energy storage systems for hybrid vehicles, hydrogen production and delivery systems, electric propulsion systems, and materials for lightweight vehicles.