Next Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Auotmated On-Road Vehicles (NEXTCAR) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NEXTCAR (DE-FOA-0001564)

What is the NEXTCAR funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0001564)?

NEXTCAR, short for Next-Generation Energy Technologies for Connected and Automated On-Road Vehicles, is an ARPA-E funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Energy focused on research and development that can cut the energy use of future on-road vehicles.

Which federal office sponsors NEXTCAR?

The program is run by ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

What is the main goal of the NEXTCAR program?

The goal is to support high-risk, high-reward R&D aimed at reducing fuel or energy consumption in on-road vehicles by advancing next-generation vehicle dynamics and powertrain control technologies enabled by connectivity and automation.

Why is ARPA-E involved in this area?

ARPA-E was created by Congress to strengthen U.S. economic and energy security by accelerating technologies that reduce petroleum imports, lower energy-related emissions (including greenhouse gases), and improve efficiency across the economy, while keeping the United States at the forefront of advanced energy innovation. NEXTCAR fits that mission by targeting energy savings that can be unlocked through connected and automated vehicle control.

What kind of projects does NEXTCAR focus on?

NEXTCAR focuses on new and emerging control technologies for vehicle dynamics and powertrains. The emphasis is on smarter planning, coordination, and execution of driving actions (for example, speed profiles, traction and braking behavior, longitudinal and lateral motion, and powertrain operating points) to reduce wasted energy in real-world driving.

Does NEXTCAR fund development of new engines or batteries?

The opportunity emphasizes control and optimization rather than funding new engines or batteries outright. The core idea is improving efficiency by making vehicle operation smarter using automation and connectivity.

What types of vehicles are included in the program scope?

The program targets light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty on-road vehicles.

What does "connected and automated" mean in the context of NEXTCAR?

It refers to vehicles using automation (software-driven control of vehicle behavior) and connectivity (such as information sharing) to anticipate conditions and optimize how the vehicle drives and operates. Connectivity can include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) information.

What is meant by vehicle dynamics and powertrain (VDPT) control?

Within this opportunity, VDPT control broadly covers how the vehicle manages its motion and energy use through decisions and control actions, including braking and traction behavior, speed planning, longitudinal and lateral motion control, and selecting efficient powertrain operating points.

How does connectivity help reduce energy consumption?

Connectivity can provide information that helps vehicles anticipate traffic and roadway conditions ahead, coordinate maneuvers with other vehicles, and operate more efficiently, whether driving alone or cooperatively.

In what driving situations is NEXTCAR trying to reduce wasted energy?

The description highlights everyday scenarios such as stop-and-go traffic, highway cruising, merging, and interactions with other vehicles.

Is the program only for fully autonomous vehicles?

No. The program is framed to deliver energy reductions across traditional human driving, semi-automated driving, and fully automated driving. This is meant to reflect staged adoption and mixed-fleet, mixed-control transitions.

What technical areas are explicitly within scope?

The technical scope includes advanced concepts for full-vehicle dynamic control, powertrain control, automation of vehicle dynamics functions, and improved optimization made possible by connectivity.

How is this opportunity connected to fuel economy and emissions standards?

The opportunity references future standards and pressure for improved efficiency and reduced emissions, including Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) for light-duty vehicles and NHTSA/EPA Phase 2 fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. NEXTCAR positions connected and automated control strategies as one lever to help meet those goals.

What type of federal award is expected under NEXTCAR?

Awards are planned as cooperative agreements, meaning DOE expects substantial involvement during the project period rather than a hands-off grant.

What activity category and CFDA number apply to this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and references CFDA 81.135.

What federal regulations govern this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is governed by federal assistance rules in 2 CFR Part 200 (as amended) and 2 CFR Part 910.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning applications are generally open to a wide range of entity types (for example, companies, universities, national laboratories, and nonprofits), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

How many awards did ARPA-E anticipate making?

ARPA-E anticipated making about 10 awards.

What is the maximum award size (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is up to $10,000,000 per award.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on April 12, 2016, and the closing date was May 24, 2016.

Where were applicants instructed to find the full announcement and submit materials?

Applicants were directed to access the full Funding Opportunity Announcement and submit required materials through ARPA-E eXCHANGE at arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.

Can concept papers be submitted by email or other channels?

No. The announcement explicitly notes that concept papers submitted through channels other than ARPA-E eXCHANGE would not be reviewed.

What is the basic rationale behind NEXTCAR's approach?

The program rationale is that smarter real-time control and optimization of vehicle behavior, aided by automation and connectivity, can extract meaningful energy savings from vehicles across many operating conditions, complementing hardware improvements without focusing on new engines or batteries as the primary funded deliverable.