Lugar: EnerDel Receives Funding For Advanced Battery Award

June 17, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Dick Lugar announced that EnerDel has been selected to receive one of seven cost-shared research awards from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Awardees will use the funds for the development of advanced batteries for electric drive vehicles. The total DOE investment for these projects is up to $10.96 million over three years, subject to annual appropriations.

EnerDel Inc., which is based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been selected for negotiation of an award for up to $3.3 million for a project to develop a chemical shuttle agent that will eliminate the danger of overcharging lithium-ion batteries developed for plug in hybrid electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles.

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The projects, being funded by annual federal appropriations, will focus on improving battery material performance, developing manufacturing processes to increase performance, and decreasing the cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) batteries. PHEVs are hybrid vehicles that can be driven in electric-only mode and recharged from a standard electric outlet. These vehicles will provide fuel diversity and decreased petroleum consumption. The acceleration of lithium-ion battery development is a key step in the successful commercialization of PHEVs, which will be capable of traveling up to 40 miles without recharging.

“EnerDel is the only domestic manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries of automotive grade quality and further underscores the exciting role Indiana can play in the future of the automotive industry,” said Lugar. “Electric vehicles, advanced biofuels, and other innovative technologies can move us away from our extreme dependence on oil.”

Lugar visited EnerDel’s headquarters in Indianapolis on February 9, 2008.

Source: Senator Dick Lugar