Blossman Services Awarded $2 Million To Develop Cleaner, Alternative Propane Direct Injection Engine, Emission Control

Washington, DC (Dec. 26, 2016) — The Department of Energy (DOE) announced a grant of $18 million recently to help fund five specific projects that further the use of alternative fuels including the research, development, and demonstration of innovative light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles that operate on fuels such as propane autogas, biodiesel, electricity, E85, hydrogen, and natural gas. Projects include direct injection propane engine technologies and plug-in electric vehicles (PEV), as well as community-based projects to accelerate the adoption of alternative fuels.

According to the DOE, public investment in advanced, energy efficient transportation technologies and systems will improve our nation’s energy security, support energy independence, reduce transportation emissions, and strengthen U.S. economic competiveness. The following five projects were selected by the DOE to help accelerate the development and adoption of alternative fuel technologies, and support pioneering deployments of market-ready vehicles and alternative fuels:

was awarded $2 million to develop a 4.3L propane direct injection engine and emission control system that will be demonstrated on a package delivery vehicle. Direct injection engine technology for propane autogas vehicles offers improved performance, greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants as compared to gasoline or diesel-fueled vehicles, and provides significant cost-savings in fuel and vehicle maintenance budgets.

will receive $4.9 million to deploy multi-fuel stations (including electric vehicle charging stations, compressed natural gas, biofuels, and propane stations) and alternative fuel vehicles (including electric drive) along I-94 from Port Huron, Michigan to the North Dakota border.

will receive $2.9 million to develop and demonstrate plug-in hybrid work trucks (class 7) that reduce fuel consumption by more than 50 percent and eliminate fuel consumption during stationary operations.

will receive $4.9 million to develop and demonstrate a battery-powered electric school bus that improves propulsion energy efficiency by 20-30 percent and that can connect to the electric grid (vehicle-to-grid).

will receive $3.9 million to accelerate PEV adoption by developing electric highway corridors along I-15, I-80, I-70, and I-84 in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, economic vitality, and quality of life.