14 DAY TRIAL // ECOtality’s long-time involvement in federal projects has brought it a $26.4 million (about €19.6 million) contract by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct the agency’s Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation (AVTE) project.
During a five-year period, the project is to provide key data for technology modeling, and research and development programs, by benchmarking and validating the performance of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles.
“ECOtality has been a vehicle testing partner for the Department of Energy for more than a decade. We pride ourselves on our important work in this field,” says Don Karner, President of ECOtality North America. “The work conducted under the Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation project will play a crucial role in evaluating future vehicle technologies.”
Technologies evaluated include: plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, extended range electric vehicles, hybrid electric, pure electric and hydraulic vehicles, advanced electric drive and engine technologies, advanced energy storage technologies and chemistries, advanced climate control, power electronic, and other ancillary systems technologies, and internal combustion engines burning advanced fuels.
“We look forward to continuing our work with the Department of Energy to produce unbiased performance data on advanced vehicle technologies that can further reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality, Inc.
“Projects such as these highlight the relevancy of ECOtality’s work and continue to position us as a leader in advanced vehicle transportation. The Advanced Vehicle Testing and Evaluation project allows us to better understand new and emerging vehicle technologies that will impact the future of transportation and the nation as a whole,” added Read.
ECOtality has been a testing partner for the U.S. Department of Energy’s AVTA for the past 13 years, and has been involved in developing test procedures used to conduct baseline, accelerated, fleet, and battery testing.
To date, ECOtality has conducted testing for more than 1,250 advanced vehicles and amassed over 11 million test miles in support of the DOE’s Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity.