RFI - High Efficiency Internal Combustin Engine Development | DE FOA 0001978

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0001978

This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) issued by the US Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) under Funding Opportunity Number DE FOA 0001978, titled "RFI - High Efficiency Internal Combustin Engine Development." It is not a funding opportunity announcement and it is not accepting applications for grants or cooperative agreements. Instead, ARPA-E is gathering input from industry, researchers, and other stakeholders to shape possible future programs. In practical terms, the agency is using this RFI to understand what high-efficiency internal combustion engine options already exist at an advanced development stage and what it would take to push those options to a point where they can be demonstrated in real vehicles and eventually commercialized.

The technical focus is narrowly defined around advanced, high-efficiency internal combustion engines (ICEs) that are suitable for light truck and SUV use, specifically vehicles in the 6,001 to 8,500 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) range, aligned with the EPA light-duty truck (LDT) classification. This target class includes full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, which have demanding real-world requirements for towing, payload, durability, and performance across a wide range of operating conditions. ARPA-E is interested in engines that can plausibly meet future expectations for performance, fuel economy, and emissions compliance in that segment, recognizing that regulatory and market pressures continue to tighten on fuel efficiency and criteria pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions.

ARPA-E is asking for information in two main areas. First, it wants a clear picture of the current state of development for any high-efficiency ICE that is already suitable for the target vehicle class, including whether it can meet the performance, utility, and emissions needs associated with full-size trucks and SUVs. Second, it wants respondents to identify what technical work remains before such an engine could be integrated successfully into a representative vehicle platform. The emphasis on integration is important: ARPA-E is not only looking for promising engine concepts, but for technologies mature enough that the next meaningful step is vehicle-level demonstration, which is often a critical hurdle on the path to commercialization.

A key constraint in the RFI is technology maturity. ARPA-E explicitly states it is not looking for unproven engine ideas or early-stage concepts that have not been reduced to practice. The agency does not want purely theoretical approaches or engine technologies that have not been demonstrated as operating engines. It also does not want engines that do not yet exist in the size and power range appropriate for the targeted truck and SUV segment. In other words, the RFI is aimed at advanced prototypes and near-commercial systems that still require development, validation, and demonstration, but are beyond basic research.

While the RFI itself does not provide funding, ARPA-E signals that the responses could directly influence near-term program decisions. Depending on what it learns, the agency may consider quickly launching one or more funded collaborative research projects aimed at advancing state-of-the-art high-efficiency ICEs with the potential to deliver substantial fuel savings in light-duty trucks and SUVs. The information submitted may therefore be used for program planning, including defining technical targets, identifying the most credible pathways to impact, and understanding the barriers that prevent high-efficiency engines from moving from advanced development into production vehicles.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and tied to science and technology and other research and development activities (CFDA 81.135). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning any entity type could respond, subject to any clarifications in the full text. Responses were to be submitted as a PDF by email to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 5:00 p.m. ET on September 21, 2018. Although the posting includes fields like award ceiling and expected awards, ARPA-E is clear throughout the notice that no funding opportunity exists at this time and that the notice should not be treated as an active grant or cooperative agreement solicitation.

• The Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency Energy in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "RFI - High Efficiency Internal Combustin Engine Development" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.135.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 21, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 21, 2018 Responses to this RFI should be submitted in PDF format to ARPA-E-RFI@hq.doe.gov by 500 p.m. ET on September 21, 2018.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0001978

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: